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Cass Street Sketches 

(JOLIET, ILL.) 



The Old Man 



JOLIET, ILL. 

C. B. HAYWARD COMPANY 

1897 



Introduction 



Unnecessary — " We were comrades." 



Preface 



Omitted — by mutual consent. 



Cciss Street St^etct\es 



\ Y/HAT is commonly known as East Cass Street 
^ is generally understood to begin at Collins 
Street. The East City limits are on a line with 
the stone wall on the East line of the Joliet Manu- 
facturing Company's land. Spring Creek is not, 
at this point, the City limits, as many suppose. 
Cass is not, correctly speaking, a Street, East of 
the City limits, but a public highway under the 
jurisdiction of the highway commissioners of 
Joliet Township. This highway was opened in 
1856 or '7 through what was then a farm. 

In 1854 an Act of the Legislature amended the 
City Charter, and among other things, enacted 
that all that part of School District No. 2, in Joliet 



8 Cass Street Sketches 

Township, adjacent to and around the City of 
Joliet, be attached to and made a part of the City 
of Joliet for school purposes. The East line of 
this School District is on a line with Walnut 
Street in Ridgewood. (Since the above was 
written this district has been extended a quarter 
of a mile further East.) 

The distance is exactly one mile from Chicago 
Street to the C. R. I. & P. switch, and thence one 
mile to the Northeast corner of Sunnyside, on the 
section line of Sections Eleven and Twelve, and 
one mile more to the Joliet and New Lenox 
Township road. 

The original bridge over Spring Creek was only 
twenty-four feet between abutments and wide 
enough for one team. The present iron struc- 
ture, with its broad roadway and banquette side- 
walks, is an evolution from a race of small wooden 
bridges. 



Cass Street Sketches 9 

All day long the rattling and rumbling traffic 
of heavy-laden trucks and wagons is merged and 
mixed with the light, rapid-rolling wheels of busi- 
ness, pleasure and pastime, the hurrying feet of 
men, women and children, and the thunder-like 
noise of the trolley, which alone refuses to rever- 
ently yield the right-of-way to the sad, slow- 
moving funeral cortege. 

In the early evening, the crowd flows steadily 
into the city, and later ebbs back to suburban 
homesteads and firesides. 

When all is still, and the instinct of the muskrat 
tells him that the boys and dogs have gone to 
roost, he slides out of his hole in the wall, for a 
star-light stroll on the water, leaving a miniature 
wake, like the wake of a ship on the ocean; and 
goes, perchance, to make a neighborly call of 
condolence on some widowed muskrat, whose 
partner has lately been caught in a steel trap. 

One Sabbath, some years ago, a small child 
wandered away from its home, fell into the creek 



10 



Cass Street Sketches 



at Benton street, and floated down near the Cass 
street bridge. At first, no one knew where it 
came from, but it was easily traced back to its 
home by the small tracks in the new-fallen snow. 
Bitter was the self-reproach, and pathetic, though 
untaught, the lamentations of the poor German 
parents, when called to the side of the limp form, 
pale face and wet tresses of the lifeless little one. 




Cass Street Sketches 11 

Henrv K. Stevens 

Near-by is the antique, but commodious and 
comfortable, home, well furnished from attic to 
basement, of Henry K. Stevens, a well-known 
man, who came West in the early Thirties. With 
his usual sagacity and foresight, he has defeated 
the inheritance tax and the lawyers by dividing a 
large estate equitably among his sons and daugh- 
ters, reserving enough for himself to pass his 
declining years in independence, peace and 
plenty, in the comfort and care of three genera- 
tions of children; and long and late may the 
shadows be in falling on one who has ever been 
a kind and considerate father and neighbor! 

Senator George H. Munroe 

One day, Senator George H, Munroe, then a 
plain citizen, but an uncommonly shrewd, up-to- 
date real estate man, went over and bought out 
the old gentleman's pasture, where he had long 



12 Cass Street Sketches 

kept his fast trotters and job-lot of traders on the 
succulent clover and blue grass, and the paddock 
was soon turned into a model subdivision, the 
pride and pet of its proprietor. 

Dr. 5. T. rerguson 

On the most prominent corner of this subdivi- 
sion stands the handsome home of Doctor Fergu- 
son, East Cass street's favorite physician, who 
always keeps his night-lamp trimmed and burning 
and the night-bell in good working order, for full 
often it calls him from the solace and comfort of 
slumber. Then comes on the bridge the footfalls 
of a horse, but no sound of wheels, for the ever- 
thoughtful doctor rides in a rubber-tired buggy, 
lest in his going about in the night-time he wake 
the babies or torture the nerves of sick ones who 
toss on their pillows. His reputation for skill in 
village, country and city practice, has given him 
a "State" position. 



Cass Street Sketches 13 

L. r. Beach 

The blooded bay trotter and the light road 
wagon that go over the bridge like lightning, is 
driven by L. F, Beach, the wide-awake Chicago 
street merchant. He was far too wide-awake to 
join in the wild stampede for free silver, free 
trade and chaos; and the result has justified his 
nerve and good judgment, Mr. Beach's home 
was originally the home of 

Major R. W. McClaughry 

a man whom any street, any city, any state, any 
country, might be proud to claim. 

He left this beautiful home on Cass street to 
go and fill positions of prominence and usefulness 
in fields where his services as humanitarian and 
disciplinarian were demanded. His history and 
reputation are written in the records of city and 
state institutions. 



14 Cass Street Sketches 

Edwin 5. Munroe 

Edwin S. Munroe's span of Maud S. gaited 
roadsters glide over the roadway like racers com- 
ing neck and neck down the homestretch, and 
those who know him will swear that the trap he 
rides in is the only trap he ever was caught in. 

The light, quick tread, going either east or 
west on the walk planks, is the step of a young 
man treading on air, for he has just parted, where 
" Parting was such sweet sorrow, that they did 
say good-night till it was morrow." 

Young folks, who go for a drive, have learned 
that this bridge is out in the country and is 
governed by country practice, which makes it a 
"toll bridge," and further out the question may 
be debated whether a sub-way is also a "toll- 
bridge." 

The sound of a throbbing engine and pump, 
pumping streams of pure water, comes from Cass 
Street's Ice Plant, that grew in the summer and 



Cass Street Sketches 15 

flourishes best in hot weather. May its stock 
never be watered too much, or used to freeze out 
its stockholders. 

And this same artesian well suggests a regret 
that the Enterprise, for which it once flowed, did 
not remain steadfast to Old Cass Street, instead 
of going west to grow up with and boom a new 
country. 

Had it stayed it might, perchance, to-day be 
beneficent, blessing and blessed, like the pioneer 
old factory on the corner of Cass and Young's 
Avenue, which has pulled through fire, hard times 
and panics, and is still doing business at the old 
stand, thanks to the guidance and counsel of the 
shrewd Pennsylvania patriarch, one of its original 
founders. 

The late theatre car has made its last trip, 
and now comes the carriage, drawn by high- 
steppers, to the tune of "After the Ball." 



16 Cass Street Sketches 

Lewis E. Dillman 

There is a sad legal history, which begins on 
Cass street, touches Eastern Avenue, thence up 
by degree^ through the courts to the highest 
court in the State. 

Near the bridge has lately come to live, a man 
who once was prominent, prosperous and happy, 
an equal side in the triangle of partners and kin- 
dred, who owned and moved the Joliet Manu- 
facturing Company's Plant from Plainfield to 
Cass Street. 

At last, the strong arm of the law, with its 
sharp technicalties untempered with mercy, has 
driven the old warrior from his home and castle, 
where he has long stood the siege like a hero, 
and fought to the death, as men only fight when 
they fight for their homes and their firesides. 
Ruined in fortune and crippled in limbs, in the 
dull, leaden skies and bleak winds of November, ^^ 
and under the shadow of death, which hung over 



Cass Street Sketches 17 

the family, he came to spend the rest of his days 
in peace on Old Cass Street. 

Andrew Dillman 

There is a fine vacant corner on Cass, and it, 
too, has its legal legends, running in almost 
parallel lines with the house on the avenue. 
On this spot was once a happy and prosperous 
home; but disaster followed disaster, and when 
sickness and death hovered over the household, 
the doctor and the deputy may have often met 
at the doorway. After long suffering and anguish, 
the spirit of one took its flight from earth's trials 
and troubles. Then came surrender and peaceable 
possession. For some time the house stood unoc- 
cupied. On a moonless morning, one passed by, 
who had come on a late train from Chicago. 
The old home appeared to be dark, dreary and 
deserted — a body lacking a soul. Perhaps it 
was "the wind in the East," but, somehow, or in 
some way, something suggested Bleak House, 



18 Cass Street Sketches 

Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce — the long train of litiga- 
tion in the courts of old England, and the blight- 
ing effect of legal contention as typified in the 
tenements and hereditaments of Tom-AIl-Alone's. 
Perhaps it may have been the spirits of Old 
Crook and his terrible Cat, and the theory of 
"Spontaneous Combustion" to account for the 
mysterious dissipation of his gin-saturated old 
body. But somehow, or some way, the place 
seemed uncanny at the unholy hour of that bleak, 
moonless morning, when this man was, possibly, 
the last one who saw the old house alive; for 
those inanimate objects left by careless plumbers 
and tinsmiths must have been then conspiring 
to commit a crime on Old Cass Street by burning 
the building, though they themselves perished in 
the flames. 



Cass Street Sketches 19 

A. H. Shreffler— Clem 5. Witvver 

With a little imagination, a picture with legends 
can be painted on this Four Corners of Cass 
Street. It has for a back-ground an ill-fated cor- 
ner, and from it arising a cloud of black smoke 
and the lurid flames that destroyed a well-known 
brick dwelling. With this sombre scene for a 
setting, two beautiful homes stand out in strong 
contrast. To the south is the elegant home of 
Clem S. Witwer, president and principal proprie- 
etor of the Joliet Manufacturing Company, and 
in the barn the famous Arabian pony, who has 
cantered and pranced to the music of bands, with 
Colonels and Majors for riders, at the head of 
long processions, and, although he has a military 
record, is as kind as a kitten. There has lately 
been crape on the door of this home; death has 
come again into the household; sad farewells 
have died into echoes; the hearse has come to 
the horse-block for all that was mortal of Andrew 



20 Cass Street Sketches 

H. Shreffler, and the white pony has followed his 
master to Oakwood. 



Judge Benjamin Olin 

The fine picturesque property to the east is the 
home of Benjamin Olin, a distinguished ex-judge 
and prominent Democratic statesman. The out- 
look is not cheerful just at present for Democratic 
statesmen in this congressional district. But the 
Judge is yet young, a diligent student and hard 
worker, and may confidently hope to have that 
luck which comes to those who work hard and 
wait, for he is the logical candidate of his party 
for any choice political plums it may have the 
power to bestow. 

The Judge's estimable wife, with her learning, 
culture and esthetic taste, has filled the home 
with rare books, rare works of art, bric-a-brac 
and curios, and, as an educator, has given the 
finishing touches in all branches of art and cul- 



Cass Street Sketches 21 

ture to many of Joliet's most talented and popular 
young ladies. 

Judge Charles H. Weeks 

It is not, perhaps, just the square thing to talk 
about a man behind his back, epecially when 
his back is as far away as Florida. But, if Judge 
Weeks will imitate the habits of migratory birds, 
and leave his reservation at the approach of win- 
ter, he must take the consequences, and the 
gossiping old boys will smoke their pipes and 
tell how, in his youth, he could do almost any- 
thing in the way of mischief. 

They will recall the time when, as leader of 
a posse comitatus the benefit of clergy was 
denied, and the horse fiddles used to play horse 
with men when they most desired to be let alone. 
But this was when he belonged to the rival 
Yankee Settlement, and before he had been toned 
down and polished up by daily association with 
a young lady who had recently graduated from 



22 Cass Street Sketches 

the Hickory Creek Co-ed Seminary, and who un- 
doubtedly gave him a course of Caudle lectures. 

At the time he was earning his judicial title, 
it is a well known political secret that he was one 
of the famous "Old Court House Clique," so 
freqently mentioned in the Joliet Signal in those 
years. 

How the Judge ever acquired the tobacco habit 
is a mystery. Perhaps, as a compromise measure, 
he was allowed to retain one small vice, but it 
must have been under protest, as the following 
true fact will show: Once a large party was 
given at his house on Cass Street, and, as the 
custom was at that time, after refreshments the 
gentlemen went to the cloak room to smoke 
and tell stories. The cigars had been passed and 
the Judge was hustling for cuspidors, utilizing 
such things as coal-pails, band-boxes and wash- 
bowls, and whatever else he could lay hands on, 
at the same time apologizing by saying: "The 
fact is, gentlemen, there is such a d — preju- 



Cass Street Sketches 23 

dice against tobacco in this house, we have no 
conveniences for smoking." 

Our Florida friend must have studied botany 
at Key West, for he is an expert on cigars, and 
can tell a domestic from an imported cigar by 
looking at the outside of the box and noticing 
whether it has an internal revenue stamp only, 
or also the tariff protection stamp, with a picture 
of a ship on the ocean. 

But, all joking aside, he can tell the quality of 
molding sand, and tell just what percentage of 
silica there is in it by rubbing it in his hand and 
between his thumb and forefinger, as a miller or 
baker -does flour, and he is a standard authority 
on fruit culture, from the citrus fruit of Florida 
to the wild plum and gooseberry of Hickory 
Creek.' 

He always comes back in the spring to his 
native haunts, just after the robins and blue birds 
show up, and goes to work on his gladiola and 
strawberry beds. 



24 Cass Street Sketches 

But few know how deeply this genial gen- 
tlemen, with his hearty laugh and apparent 
carelessness, has studied in the esoteric schools 
of mysticism and transcendentalism, and, with 
his eminently judicial mind and keeness of vision, 
sought to pierce the veil. 

" In superstition's sands he sought for grains of truth, 
In superstition's night he looked for stars." 

Colonel George C. Clinton 

Col. George C. Clinton is a prominent railroad 
man, who has handled the throttle of a locomo- 
tive; built railroads from the right-of-way up to 
the finishing touches; successfully managed the 
operation of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Rail- 
road, one of the great railroads of Joliet. 

If there is anything that moves which the 
Colonel likes better than a locomotive, it is a fine 
horse. Railroad man that he is, he wants a good 
sound bed for his rolling stock, and, with his 
usual energy and push, is at present figuring on 



Cass Street Sketches 25 

asphalt, the king of pavements, for East Cass 
Street. 

Martin C. Bissell 

Among all those who have resided on Cass 
street in years past, there was, perhaps, never 
one of more marked individuality and originality 
than Martin C. Bissel. He had a great many 
good qualities and also many amusing ones. He 
was always interesting, for, while with most 
men it can be pretty accurately surmised about 
what they will say or do under given conditions, 
it would be quite certain that he would have 
ideas of his own. He was not a devotee of fash- 
ion, and usually drew the plans and specifications 
for his wearing apparel himself, from his hat to 
his shoes, from his top coat to his underwear. 
Even his jewelry was made from leather models 
fashioned by his own hand. But away at the 
bottom of all his crudities and oddities was a 
solid foundation of good judgment and good 



26 Cass Street Sketches 

common sense. He always had the courage of 
his convictions. He was an outspoken abolition- 
ist in the days when to be a black abolitionist 
was, in the estimation of a large class of people, 
the next thing to being a black man. 

He had the courage, in the days before the 
war, to go upon the platform in old Young's Hall, 
stand by the side of Frederick Douglass, and 
introduce him to the audience as if he was a 
man and brother; and this at a time when the 
negro was held in bondage and bought and sold 
like cattle. 

The subject of this sketch may truthfully be 
said to have been possessed of a dual or compos- 
ite nature, of the earth, earthy; of the world, 
worldly, to the last degree; and yet he had a 
spiritual nature which carried him to the ex- 
tremes of transcendentalism and mysticism. 

Incredulous and skeptical in all the ordinary 
affairs of life; submitting every proposition to 
the severest test and scrutiny, he accepted as 



Cass Street Sketches 27 

gospel truth the mystic doctrine and teachings of 
Emmanuel Swedenborg; accepted his unproven 
statements of his power of second sight and seer- 
ship; accepted as true all his description of the 
unseen world, and adopted his method of inter- 
preting the meaning of certain books of the Bible 
by the language of correspondences. 

That he was sincere in his religious belief may 
safely be inferred from the fact that he left his 
large fortune almost entirely to be used in propa- 
gating the doctrines of the New Church, of which 
Emmanuel Swedenborg was the founder and 
apostle. 

Herman J. Powell 

For over a year, East Cass street had the 
"benefit of clergy" in the person of Herman J. 
Powell, who came from Michigan via Iowa and 
Jamaica, to settle down and become one of the 
gospel teachers of Joliet. The many friends he 
has made in his brief stay are saddened to know 



2S Cass Street Sketches 

that poor health requires his temporary abandon- 
ment of a calling which he is intellectually and 
socially so well qualified to fill. 

In plain sight of the bridge, stands a quaint, 
modern-built, "Old Colony Style" dwelling, the 
home of a business young lady in a department 
ofifice on Chicago street, where clients, custo- 
mers, politicians and statesmen come in on the 
ground floor, where she is caged up during hours, 
keeping books, cash, business, social and political 
secrets. Although she has a record of them all, 
discreetly keeps silent, but could, if she would, 
give them away in at least three separate and 
distinct languages. 

Charles 5. Seaver 

Just beyond the last business corner of Cass 
Street is the home of Charles S. Seaver, a Ver- 
mont and Canadian trader, now a hustling 
wholesale merchant of Joliet. He is too much 



Cass Street Sketches 29 

pressed for time to live far from his business or 
to look at less than "car lots." There was no 
doubt where he stood when the late political 
contest was on and the fight hottest all along the 
line, for he nailed his colors high above the light- 
ning of the trolley and let the old flag float for all 
it was worth until the returns were all in. Then 
the old gray horse came flying up the street, 
turned the corner with the buggy balanced on 
the inside wheels, as usual, and came under the 
wire at the tap of the dinner bell. 

William McDermett 

Commercial traveling men have a fair sample 
of the fraternity in the veteran and popular rep- 
resentative of Franklin Macveagh & Co., William 
McDermett, who is as energetic and vigorous as 
when he first went on the road. He owns an ele- 
gant large house on a prominent corner, has a 
happy family, always wears good clothes and a 
cheerful air, is a chronic smoker of choice cigars, 



30 Cass Street Sketches 

and makes sales for "The House" and friends for 
himself wherever he goes. 

Abijah Cagwin 

The night train on the Rock Island thunders 

over the bridge to the South, slacks up, rattles 

over the crossing, stops at the station, starts on 

over the river and canal, then its sound dies 

away in the darkness and distance. 

"Now, o'er the one-half world nature seems dead." 
But care keeps watch in an old man's eye, 

And where care lodges sleep can never lie." 

It is a cloudless night, " Constellations come 
and climb the heavens and go." 

High in the cold, Northern skies, in the region 
of perpetual apparition, shines the Pole star, and 
a fancied ramble may be taken eastward past the 
quarries and stone-yards, on by the three silent 
cities, where the wind sighs and mourns at night 
time in the dark cypress and pine trees, and over 
the bright granite and white marble, and where 



Cass Street Sketches 31 

all nations, all denominations and creeds are at 
peace with each other, up the hill past the late 
home of Abijah Cagwin, a pioneer of 1835, and 
one of Joliet's merchants and grain dealers; at 
one time he owned over five hundred acres of 
land out and around East Cass street, a part of 
which he left to his children. He was always a 
large holder of Joliet real estate, and in this con- 
nection it may be stated that the name of Cag- 
win appears on the Plat Book in twenty-one 
subdivisions of real estate in Joliet Tov/nship. 
Harry F. Cagwin will probably add a few more 
to this number. 

The old weather-beaten frame house at Shaw's 
brick yards was built by Uncle Bijah in 183-, 
with hard lumber sawed at his saw mill on 
Hickory Creek, and the line of the old mill race 
can be seen just south of the C, R. I. & P. R. R. 
He continued to reside in this house until 1840, 
when he was elected Probate Judge and removed 
to Joliet. 



32 Cass Street Sketches 

Mr. Cagwin was of a very social disposition 
and wherever men congregated he was usually 
the center of a group, for he was an interesting 
talker, and always had something to say which 
the boys wanted to hear, even if they did, some- 
times, have to wait for him to take a whiff of his 
pipe before he finished a remark. 

One summer day in '89, a horse and buggy 
came dashing down Chicago street, and men's 
hearts stood still when they saw that the frantic 
horse was beyond the control of Uncle Bijah, its 
driver. All were horror-stricken when, by the 
bounding of the buggy, he was thrown up in the 
air and alighted on his head and shoulders on 
the hard pavement. It did not seem possible 
that a man of his age and weight could survive 
such a fall, and his friends were surprised and 
gratified to learn that, although badly shocked, 
he had sustained no serious injuries. 



Cass Street Sketches 33 

Martin Wcstphal 

On by Sunnyside with its double row of 
cottages and Dickens'-named streets, on by tlie 
bright burning kilns where brick has been 
made by two generations, and further on, the 
beautiful home of Martin Westphal, the banker; 
thence on to Hickory Creek bridge, to rest, muse 
and ponder, with the noise of the water for music, 
and the. Red Mill with its mill pond, mill dam, 
bluff and woodland for a landscape. 

At about this point runs the west meandering, 
indefinite line of the old Pioneer Hickory Creek 
Settlement, bounded south by the Five Mile 
Grove Settlement, east by Van Home's Point, the 
present village of New Lenox, and north by Yan- 
kee Settlement, which is most all, if not all, of 
the Township of Homer. 



34 Cass Street Sketches 

Oakwood Cemeterg 

George W. Casseday, Francis L. Cagwin and 
Daniel C. Young were the original proprietors of 
Oakvvood Cemetery; A. J. Mathewson, the sur- 
veyor who platted it; Francis Goodspeed, the 
notary public who took the acknowledgement, 
and Royal E. Barber, the recorder when it was 
recorded. 

For many years this beautiful city of the dead 
has been guarded and cared for by Walker Mc- 
Dowell and sons, the faithful sextons. 



George M. rish 

George M. Fish's old friends disregard the 
threatening inscription at the entrance to his 
duck domain, for they know that " Visitors not 
wanted — beware of the dog," is not meant for 
them. 



Cass Street Sketches 35 

This once prominent banker and manufacturer 
is now leading tiie life of a recluse, away from 
the busy haunts of men, and is engaged in poul- 
try raising on an extensive scale. The large 
hatchery has all the modern improvements, the 
plant is in charge of experts, and everything is 
run on systematic business principles. 

Incubators automatically kept at a uniform 
temperature of 103 hatch out chickens in twenty- 
one days, ducks in twenty-eight days, and geese 
in thirty days. 

A Peculiar Stock rarm 

A mephitis mephitica farm was started a short 
distance from Cass Street, which, from the pro- 
lific nature of these little nocturnal mammalia, 
promised to rank high among Joliet's manufac- 
tories. 

Theoretically the scheme figured out big on 
paper, but practically it was not a success. At 



36 Cass Street Sketches 

the round-up and final count it appeared the 
stock had decreased instead of increasing. So 
the varmints were slaughtered for their pelts and, 
dyed and disguised as some costly fur, will adorn 
and tickle the fair necks of those who would 
shudder and shrink from the contact, if it was 
known what animal first wore the fur. 

Ridgewood 

It is a fine thing for a community to have 
among its members men of enterprise, pluck and 
energy, and it makes all the difference in the 
world who the property owners are; whether 
they are men who hold on to a piece of real 
estate, kick at improvements, fight taxes, and 
wait for time and the enterprise of others to 
increase the value of their land, or men who 
go to work and improve their property to the 
very best advantage possible. All around 
the Ridgewood region are indications of the fact 



Cass Street Sketches 31 

that somebody is looking after things — spending 
money, making improvements himself, and get- 
ting a full share of public improvements. 

To those acquainted with the facts it is unnec- 
essary to say that, to the energy and influence 
of Senator Munroe, this section of suburban Joliet 
is mostly indebted, — from the location of Silver 
Cross Hospital down. A man who can, at the 
same time he is doing a good thing for himself, 
do good things for the community, is invaluable. 

Red Mill and Thomas Culbertson 

The Red Mill is the only water-power flour mill 
in Will County ever rebuilt after a fire. But 
this is readily accounted for when it is known 
that Senator Munroe was one of its owners 
at the time of the fire. For many years it was 
owned and operated by Thomas Culbertson, 
a well-known miller, who lived in the neat 
white cottage near by. Imagination brings him 



38 Cass Street Sketches 

back; he is seen early in the morning with his 
long-toothed rake, removing the driftwood and 
rubbish caught in the race guards, then raising 
the bulkhead gates and connecting the gearing, 
which sets machinery and mill-stones to grind- 
ing the amber-hued wheat into flour and the 
golden corn into meal. He examines the warm 
fresh graham as it comes from the mill-stones, 
before it is carried in buckets on belting to the 
revolving bolts, and bolted through graded 
bolting cloth into fine flour, middlings, shorts 
and bran, each carried in a separate spout to 
its own bin. The corn is ground on the 
corn run of stone, passes up in buckets, and is 
separated into fine meal and bran. Making sure 
there is grain enough in the hoppers, he fills his 
long-spouted oil can from the oil jug and goes 
over the mill, oiling cog-wheels and bearings. 
The grists come, and each in its turn goes into 
the hopper. With scales or toll-dishes, he takes 
his toll squarely and honestly — one-eighth for 



Cass Street Sketches 39 

grinding and bolting wheat and rye, or other 
grain; one-seventh for grinding Indian corn, bar- 
ley and buckwheat, or other grain, not bolted; 
one-eighth for grinding malt and chopping all 
other kinds of grain. Thus the toll bin contained 
quite an assortment of wheat, good, bad and 
indifferent. The grade of flour it made would 
be quite uncertain, bread-making not an exact 
science, but a matter of "good luck" or "bad 
luck," as it was called by the bread-makers. In 
its season, one day of the week is set apart as 
buckwheat day, for both stones and bolts have 
to be cleaned after buckwheat before wheat is 
ground. 

When the mill-stones need dressing, the upper 
stone is raised by a crane, turned over, and a 
straight-edge, freshly painted with Venetian red 
mixed with water, is run over the face, that the 
grooves made by the dressing pick may show 
plainly; then, with a bag of bran to pillow his 
elbow, the miller pecks away with his sharp, 



40 Cass Street Sketches 

chisel-like pick, dressing the stones, and this is 
where the skill of a miller is required. 

The old mill changed hands, and the miller 
knew that a mortal disease was upon him. With 
resignation, fearlessly, calmly and clearly, he put 
his worldly affairs in order, and Moses Demmond, 
the man who now lives in the old homestead, and 
the author, witnessed his last will and testament. 

Soon there came a day when the sound of the 
grinding was low in the mill — mourners and life- 
long friends gathered about the old mill and the 
old home. The stream from under the mill ran 
in the tail-race as silent as the tears from beneath 
the eyelids of the mourners; and the cadence of 
water flowing over the mill dam, with the slow 
rumbling of carriage wheels, seemed a fitting 
requiem for the departed spirit of the gentle and 
kindly miller, as all that was mortal was rever- 
ently laid to rest at Oakwood. 



Cass Street Sketches 41 

Lewis E. Ingalls 

Lewis E. Ingalls began life in Dupage, Will 
County, in 1839; came to Joliet in 1869; engaged 
in the lumber business, then in real estate, which 
he found more to his liking and better adapted 
to his genius. He wanted pure air and more 
elbow room than he could have in the city and 
bought a three-hundred-acre tract of choice land 
east of Joliet, in the Hickory Creek country. 

Mr. Ingalls also discovered that he had the 
capacity to handle large transactions, and 
trans-ferred his real estate business to Chicago, 
where he could have an unlimited field for big 
deals. 

His model farm and racing park were once one 
of the famous Black Hawk camp grounds. Here, 
one might turn the fancy loose and revel in Indian 
legends and Indian traditions, for, from the large 
number of relics found in and around the premi- 
ses, it is evident that this spot was long used as 



42 Cass Street Sketches 

an Indian camp, and undoubtedly the scene of 
many famous pow-wows and war dances. 

There is a strong contrast between the Indian 
wigwam and the fine home of the present proprie- 
tor; a strong contrast between the horde of sav- 
ages who gathered here in bygone days and the 
elegant throng who congregate to witness races 
on a mile of as fine sod track as can be found in 
the world; a strong contrast between those un- 
kempt blanketed squaws and the beauty and 
fashion which assemble here on Ladies' Day; a 
wide difference between Indian war paint and 
modern face powder; and the drapery of fashion- 
able gowns leaves much more for the imagination 
in the matter of anatomy. 

There is no comparison between the ungroomed, 
half-starved Indian ponies, and racers with records 
of speed which would not have been dreamed of 
by horsemen a few years ago. The pneumatic 
tire sulky is a decided improvement on hickory 
poles dragged by Indian ponies. 



Cass Street Sketches 43 

There was abundance of fire-water at those 
old-time gatherings of the Indian race, but the 
present proprietor has demonstrated that a race 
can be successful without liquor. 

It is an animated and lovely sight to see this 
grand park filled with fine equipages, many col- 
ored gowns and garments, and the gleaming of 
human faces, when the race is on and all eyes 
intent upon the "field" and "favorites," straining 
every nerve to take and keep the lead. Then 
the winner comes under the wire; is cheered; is 
elated and happy; but what of the vanquished? 

The judges' decision is seldom appealed from, 
for this court is governed by " good horse sense." 

Much might be done to elevate the character 
of racing, if a chain of gentlemen's select clubs 
were formed in different cities, to ride and drive 
their own horses in friendly contest for gold or 
silver spurs, or jewelled bits for the prizes. This 
would be genuine sport, away and beyond racing 
horses with hired jockies. 



44 Cass Street Sketches 

What an enthusiastic assembly there would be 
when Joliet's picked four — say Messrs. C. S. 
Seaver, J. T. Donahoe, A. E. Dinet and J. L. 
O'Donnell were to ride for the spurs against 
Ottawa or Aurora's picked four. 

Base-Ball, foot-ball, and even whist would pale 
into insignificance compared with such a gallant 
contest as this. 

New Lenox 

This section of country was doubly favored by 
providence: first, in the fertility and rare beauty 
of the land and healthfulness of climate, and 
again in the good judgment and most excellent 
character of its pioneers. For, take them one and 
all, they would average up with any settlement 
in the West. Their names are all recorded in 
the History of Will County by one who knew 
them well and knew their worth — George H. 
Woodruff. This reliable historian says there 



Cass Street Sketches 45 

were three white settlers in the Hickory Creek 
Settlement in 1829: Col. Sayre, Mr. Brown and 
Mr. Friend; that Brown died and was buried on 
the Davison place, this being the first white 
man's funeral in Will County. The first post- 
office was at Cougar's, and Joliet people had to 
go there for mail and pay at least twenty- five 
cents apiece for their letters. 

This township can boast of a fine forest, an 
old fort, (builders unknown); mineral springs; 
Hickory Creek and surroundings, which could 
be readily developed into a most enchanting 
summer and health resort, all within less than 
an hour's ride from Chicago, on one of the best 
railroads in the world. Speaking of railroads, 
recalls the fact that there was an important sta- 
tion of a subterranean railroad in this township 
in slavery times, but no one would for a moment 
suspect that the well-preserved, popular gentle- 
man of the old school, Dwight Haven, had ever 
run the risk, in his youth, of undermining his 



46 Cass Street Sketches 

constitution and the constitution of the United 
States by assisting in operating an underground 
railroad. 



RocK Island Railroad 

The original charter for the Rock Island and 
LaSalle Railroad was amended by act of the 
Legislature February 7, 1851, to the Chicago 
and Rock Island Railroad. The capital stock was 
increased $300,000, and Uri Osgood and N. D. 
Elwood, as commissioners, opened books for 
stock subscriptions. 

The Board of Directors held their first meeting 
at Peoria, April 8, 1851, and elected James Grant, 
president; Churchill M. Coffin, vice president; 
Nelson D. Elwood, secretary; George Morris and 
N. D. Elwood, attorneys; W. B. Jones, of New 
York City, engineer; and Samuel B. Reed was 
appointed engineer to take charge of location 
and construction. N. D. Elwood secured most of 



Cass Street Sketches 47 

the right-of-way from Chicago to the Mississippi. 

Farnham and Sheffield took the contract to 
build the entire line for $500,000, to be paid in 
monthly installments as the work progressed. 
Joel A. Matteson, as sub-contractor, built the 
road from Blue Island to the west Will County 
line, a distance of thirty-five miles, and employed 
about eight hundred men on the work. 

When Joel A. Matteson was elected Governor 
in 1852, there was no railroad from Joliet to 
Springfield, and the Rock Island rails were only 
laid a few miles west of town. 

When he left Joliet for the State Capitol, the 
contractors provided a special train, and a large 
number of citizens escorted their new Governor 
as far as a train could be run over the new rail- 
road. 

When the road was completed to the Missis- 
sippi in 1854, prominent citizens along the line 
received an invitation from its officers for an 
excursion, including a round trip by boat up the 



48 Cass Street Sketches 

river to St. Paul. Bottled beverages are said to 
have been a prominent feature of this picnic, but 
whether they were included in the original invi- 
tation, or came in under the head of extras, the 
oldest inhabitant does not distinctly remember. 

The old Rock Island Railroad and Hickory 
Creek have been neighbors and friends for many 
years. Although they cross each other's paths, 
and in times of high water some encroachments 
have been made by the creek on the right-of- 
way of the road, they have journeyed along side 
by side through Joliet, New Lenox and Frank- 
fort townships for forty-five years. Old settlers 
have a kindly feeling toward this road, for, to 
many, it was their first sight of a railroad — the 
first upon which they ever traveled. To them, 
its swift-running passenger trains were marvels 
of speed compared with the old hoosier wagon, 
the lumbering, thorough-brace-spring stages on 
the stage roads and packets on the canal. 

To-day the C, R. I. & P. owns 2,880.70 miles, 



Cass Street Sketches 49 

and leases 690.71 miles, thus operating 3,571.41 
miles of continuous or solid jointed, heavy steel 
rails, with rolling stock and equipment unsur- 
passed by any road in the country. It has never 
been in the hands of a receiver and the stock 
always pays good dividends. 

From Joliet to Chicago, this road passes 
through a beautiful country, along woodland 
and limpid water, over broad savannahs, and 
gently-rolling prairies. Fertile fields, pastures, 
pleasant homes, parks, mansions and mammoth 
barns, 

"Dart by so swiftly that their images 

Dwell not upon the mind, or only dwell 
In dim confusion." 

The Rock Isalnd route is a favorite with Joliet 
people, and the "smoker" is well patronized by 
representative business men. While everything 
else in this car is of a go-as-you-please nature, it 
is not considered good form to smoke any other 
than "Upmann's Best," out of respect for J. Fred 



50 Cass Street Sketches 

Wilcox, the portly and genial autocrat of the car, 
who owns a large frontage on old Cass street 
and resides on one of its most prominent corners. 

Gone are the old iron rails. Gone are the old 
twenty-five-mile-an-hour, wood-burning locomo- 
tives, with the blue-white, pungent-odored wood 
smoke. 

Gone are the great long wood piles, the old 
horse-power tread-mill and buzz-saw, and the 
fragrance of the fresh-cut oak, hickory, ash, and 
maple tree. Now, replaced by the blighting, 
corroding fumes of the sulphuric acid of bitumin- 
ous coal smoke. Gone are the old conductors, 
engineers and brakemen, but that perennial 
plant, the train-boy, like the corporation, never 
dies. If one drops out or gets lost in the shuffle, 
his successor in trust bobs up serenely with the 
same old figs, peanuts, popcorn and papers, busi- 
ness goes on at the old stand, and there is no 
interruption to this branch of inter-state com- 
merce. 



Cass Street Sketches 51 



The Cut-Off 

The Cut-Off Railroad was built in 1855 by 
Joel A. Matteson and Nelson D. Elwood, under 
the very liberal charter of the Oswego and 
Indiana Plank Road Co. 

Mr. Elwood was its president until the road 
passed into the ownership of the Michigan Cen- 
tral. He was the proprietor of the village of 
Matteson and joint owner with Sherman W. 
Bowen of Frankfort and Spencer stations. 

Until the completion of its line from Joliet 
north in 1857, C, A. & St. L. trains ran into 
Chicago over the Cut-Off and Illinois Central 
roads. 

Calvin C. Knowlton was for many years 
superintendent of the Cut-Off. Since then, its 
superintendents, with the exception of Lester A. 
Soule, have hardly remained in Joliet long 
enough to become acclimated. 



52 Cass Street Sketches 

George W. Beiber seems to hold his position 
for life, or good behavior, which amounts to the 
same thing with him. 

Although the Cut-Off enjoys the distinction of 
being the only railroad which has its terminal at 
Joliet, the citizens do not point with pride to the 
exact spot where its passenger traffic terminates. 

ADram rrancis 

In the spring of 1831, Abram Francis and party 
came from Ohio on horseback to LaFayette, 
Indiana, where they left their horses and struck 
out on foot with knapsacks, guns and axes. 

At Yellow Head Point, now Momence, they 
found a large black-walnut log, from which they 
made a canoe thirty feet long, and in this they 
floated down the Kankakee river to near Wil- 
mington, where they abandoned the boat and 
followed the Indian trail to Hickory Creek Settle- 
ment. Here, Mr. Francis showed his good judg- 
ment by making a selection of an ideal spot for 



Cass Street Sketches 53 

a farm: prairie, woodland, and water. The Chi- 
cago Indian trail ran near his door, and Indians 
were frequent callers. 

A. Allen rrancis 

In this discontented age, contented men are sel- 
dom met with, but A. Allen Francis seems to be 
satisfied with his lot, and he may well be, when it 
consists of over twelve hundred acres of New 
Lenox farm land. 

Mr. Francis has never been a rolling stone, 
gathering no moss, but must have a large devel- 
opment of the organ phrenologists name "inhab- 
itiveness," for he sleeps every night within a 
few feet of the spot where he was born. 

Perhaps the longest time he has ever been 
away from home was in '59, when he attended 
High School in Joliet, and, in the literary and 
debating society, acquired, among other things, 
a knowledge of parliamentary law and tactics, 
which makes him a model presiding officer and 



54 Cass Street Sketches 

speaker. That he is popular with farmers is 
evidenced by the fact of his being the unanimous 
choice, from year to year, for president of the 
Will County Farmers' Institute. 

This dignified and sedate gentleman may not 
exactly like to have the public know that in his 
school days he appeared before the footlights and 
played the leading part in the " Laughable Farce 
of Brigham Young and Horace Greeley" to a 
large and appreciative audience. 

He never told his wife about it. She learned 
it from a wayfaring man one day, and rewarded 
him for his information with a good square meal, 
consisting, among other things, of chicken and 
custard pies, which were poultry poems bound 
in pastry. 

When one becomes a guest at his lovely home, 
with its music and culture, and meets Mrs. Fran- 
cis, there is no surprise that he, who once had 
fifteen Mormon wives, is now contented and 
happy with one Gentile wife. 



Cass Street Sketches 55 

Morgan Watl^ins 

" I Pray you do not mock me, 

1 am an old man, fourscore and upward, 

And to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind." 

It was the most hollow mockery for the wags 
of the early 50's to persuade an over-credulous 
old gentleman, named Morgan Watkins, that he 
was so popular he could be elected to various 
offices. He was always ready to run for office or 
go a-courting. 

One of his unique announcements is given as 
copied from the Joliet Signal: 

" By request of many friends and citizens, 
having a due regard for the safety, welfare and 
political prosperity of our common country, I have 
been constrained, after mature deliberation, to 
announce myself a candidate for the office of 
sheriff. 

"Standing upon the platform of equal rights 
and the broad principles of universal suffrage, 
with an eye single to the glory and honor of our 



56 Cass Street Sketches 

common country, and the untarnished perpetuity 
of those great and glorious principles of Democ- 
racy handed down from the beginning of the 
world by Nebuchadnezzar and other similar 
patriots of antiquity, 1 hereby announce myself 
the 'Main Liquor Law and Know-Nothing candi- 
date for sheriff, subject to the unanimous decision 
of the whole American people. 
"October 17th, 1854. 

"Morgan Watkins." 

The election returns, as published in the Joliet 
Signal, do not show that any votes were cast for 
Morgan Watkins for sheriff. 

Judge Davison 

One of the prominent features in the heart of 
the landscape of Hickory Creek Settlement is a 
comfortable, old-fashioned farm house, part frame 
and part stone. While pursuing his calling of 
surveyor in New Jersey, Judge John J, Davison 



Cass Street Sketches 57 

stumbled on a large tract of timber land which 
had been overlooked by land-grabbers. He 
secured the patent, and, partly with his own axe, 
turned the timber into money, and kept the sur- 
veyor's chain, saw and axe, as souvenirs or 
mascots during his lifetime. In coming west, he 
was detained a while in Indiana by being elected 
Judge of Probate. 

After this, he traveled extensively through 
Indiana and Illinois on horseback, and surveyed 
for the government and individuals in different 
counties, but evidently found no land that suited 
him as well as the land in Hickory Creek Settle- 
ment, where he selected some choice tracts of 
timber and prairie, which still belongs to his 
daughters. His original home, a double log 
house, stood just north of the present stone and 
frame dwelling. The stone building was a part 
of what was intended to be a large stone dwell- 
ing; he had just completed this when death came 
for him, and the work ceased. 



58 Cass Street Sketches 



Dr. B. r. Allen 

Some time after the death of Judge Davison, 
Dr. Benjamin F. Allen, a graduate of a New York 
Medical College, and talented, all-round literary 
man, came into the Settlement, and, after looking 
the ground over, concluded the inhabitants were 
more in need of a school-master than a doctor. 
Accordingly he accepted the position of school- 
master, arid boarded round. That which was 
most likely to happen, did happen. The young 
doctor met the young widow, wooed and won 
her, and they were wed. 

This amiable gentleman filled the delicate posi- 
tion of step-father in a manner most acceptable, 
not only to the family, but to the entire settle- 
ment, and so well and faithfully did he perform 
his trust as guardian, that when the minors 
became of age they found themselves in posses- 
sion of handsome fortunes. 



Cass Street Sketches 59 

In 1860, the family removed to a very pleasant 
home on Cass street. As he had retired from 
active business, the Doctor fitted up a cozy little 
literary den, where he spent most of his time 
with his books and in literary work, and became 
a frequent contributor to the local papers. He 
told the romance of his life in poetry, in a charm- 
ing little volume entitled: " Irene, or the Life and 
Fortunes of a Yankee Girl." 

Cornelius C. Van Home 

"O mischief! thou art swift to enter in 
The thoughts of desperate men." 

The following record of a coroner's inquest, 
and the formal entries in the docket of the Will 
County Circuit Court, comprise the legal record 
of a very thrilling and dramatic episode in the 
early days of the Hickory Creek Settlement. 

Some time in 1840, an old man named Kramer, 
making his way on foot to his former home in 



60 Cass Street Sketches 

Pennsylvania, was found in a fit, in a deserted 
blacksmith shop, in the Hickory Creek Settle- 
ment. He was taken to the house of Archibald 
McLaughlin and cared for until able to resume 
his journey. 

At this time, he had quite a sum of money 
with him. He was next found near Skunk's 
Grove, and muttered in an unintelligible way 
that he had been robbed. His money was gone, 
he died in a few days and was buried by the 
charity of the community. 

The McLaughlin's were suspected of being the 
robbers. The father and son were indicted for 
robbery and larceny. 

As justice of the peace, Cornelius C. Van 
Home had, perhaps, been mainly instrumental in 
causing the crime to be fastened on them, and 
thus incurred their most bitter animosity. 

Archibald McLaughlin, Jr., disappeared from 
the neighborhood, and after a time the father 
began a pretended search in the timber and along 



Cass Street Sketches 61 

the creek, saying that he believed his boy had 
been murdered. 

After the finding of the body, as detailed in 
the coroner's report, McLaughlin and his Jezebel 
wife charged Esquire Van Home with being the 
murderer of their son. 

As the sequel proved, these fiends had entered 
into a diabolical conspiracy to get their son out 
of the country, save the bondsmen, who had 
become bound for his appearance at court for 
trial, and also have revenge on Esquire Van 
Home. 

They had removed Kramer's body from the 
grave and taken it in a wheelbarrow to Hickory 
Creek; they also ran Matthew Van Home's 
wagon as far as they could in that direction and 
back again, to make it appear that the body had 
been brought there in that wagon, and then at 
the inquest swore that it was the body of their 
son. 

The Kramer grave was at once opened; the 



62 Cass Street Sketches 

body was not there. It was established that the 
body found in the water was not McLaughlin's, 
but Kramer's. 

Part of the coroner's report is here given ver- 
batim. It is unique, and bears evidence of an 
unusual amount of primitive "crowners' quest 
law." 

State of Illinois, \ 

Will County. \ ^^' 

On the fifteenth day of July one thousand 
eight hundred and forty before the subscriber 
coroner of the County of Will personally ap- 
peared Allen Denny, Lewis Denny Archable 
smith Archibald McGloflin Andrew More William 
Gowger Jacob Simons John Atkins sen Truman 
Smith David R. Hobly who was duly sworn to 
give evidence and the truth to say concerning 
his knowledge of the manner by whom the 

Deceased the person whose 

body was lately found Dead at Havens Mill Pond 
in Hickory Creek Precinct came to his death. 

Allen Denny Deposeth and saith 

That on the 15th Day of July 1840 that about 
7 o'clock in the morning Discovered a body of a 
man lieinsf in water about 15 rods above O. H. 



Cass Street Sketches 63 

& P. A. Havens saw mill and after notifying the 
inhabitants of the settlement and further exam- 
ining the shore and ground about the said mill 
discovered that the body had been resently there 
the body had the appearance of being in a high 
state of putrifaction that on examining the shore 
more closely found the tracts of wheelbarrows 
goeing into the water and out also found hair on 
shore and pieces of rope of the length of 2 feet 
and some shorter pieces had the appearance of 
being recently cut. 

On examining found wheelbarrow tracts in a 
direction on the road westerly from the mill and 
locks of hair resembling the hair on the head of 
the body at a distance of 40 or 50 rod from the 
place where the body was found. 

Also found a small rope resembling the one 
before mentioned 'about 18 in long had the ap- 
pearance of being recently cut also hair about 
the rope and a lock hair near where it was 
found body was naked except a part of brown 
cotton shirt that he was there about six days 
before the body was found and saw no appear- 
ance of any person lieing in the water and thinks 
that the body must have been put there since 
that time. 

Allen Denny. 



64 Cass Street Sketches 

Lewis Denny deposeth and saith that he was 
acquainted with one Archibald Mclaullin who 
has been absent from the place since about Feb- 
ruary last and he verry believes the body to be 
the same that on examining the shore where the 
body was found there was the marks of a wheel- 
barrow hair small pieces of rope and had the 
appearance that the body had been brought 
from a distance and deposited in the water where 
it was found but one or two days previous to it 
being first discovered as 1 was there on the 12 
day previous to the discovery of the body and 
crossed the creek several times where the body 
was found that I have examined the road and 
found hair at five several places at a distance of 
40 or 50 rods from the body 1 further state that 
on examining a wheelbarrow in the possession 
of Archibald Smith the tire of the wheel agreed 
in width the track found near the hair and the 
wheelbarrow had hair on it resembling the hair 
on a man's body. LEWIS L. DENNY. 

Archibald Smith deposeth and saith that on 
being informed that the body of a person was in 
the creek near the Havens saw mill about 15 
rods above it I immediately repaired to the place 
and found it to be the body of a man about 5j4 
feet in hight very much putrified so that the 



Cass Street Sketches 65 

flesh was dropping of the bones without cloth 
except a coarse factory shirt and on examining 
found the body to all appearance had been 
recently put there he further saith that a wheel- 
barrow in his possession was taken from its 
usual place and left 15 or 20 rods east of the 
house in a direction to where the body was 
found that the tracts of the wheel join in the 
road and near the body would correspond with 
the wheel on my barrow. 

Archibald Smith. 

Archibald McLachlin Deposeth and saith that 
he has a son by the name of Archibald McLaugh- 
lin of the age of 23 years in April of the present 
year that he left home on or about the 26 day of 
February to go to Mr. Woods at Cagwins saw 
mill and expected to return before the March 
term of the Circuit Court since which time I 
have never seen him has seen the body of a 
man found in Hickory Creek on the 15th inst by 
Allen Denny and verrily believes it to be the 
body of his son Archibald and also believes that 
his said son was murdered that he has spent 
some 20 or 30 days looking in Hickory Creek 
and the adjoining woods for his body since his 
absence. That on or obout the 18th day of Feb- 
ruary 1840 there was some altorcation took place 



66 Cass Street Sketches 

between Cornelius C. Vanhorn and my son 
Archibald which resulted in a threat of the for- 
mer that he would wreck him or ruin him and 
that the latter expressed and unwillingness to be 
out in the night for fear but that in day time he 
was not afraid of him that he was last seen about 
40 rods from the residence of Mathew Van Home 
crossing that way about 8 or 9 o'clock in the 
morning that David R. Hoby stated at the March 
term of the Circuit Court of Will County that he 
knew a certain fact by an order that he had and 
after said that the order referred to was the same 
paper that 1 am sure I saw in the possession of 
my son Archibald three days previous to absence. 
Archibald McLachlin. 

Phineas H. Holden Deposeth and saith 
That he was acquainted with Archibald Mc- 
Laughlin. Andrew More Deposeth and saith 
that A. C. Van Horn told him last evening that 
William Gouger told him that Archibald Mc- 
Laughlin had said that he had received a letter 
from his son Archibald McLauflin jun and that 
he would bet anything that he was not dead. 

Andrew Moore. 

William Cougar Deposeth and saith that 
Archibald McGlaughlin told him that he had 



Cass Street Sketches 67 

received a letter from his son John also that he 
believed his son Archibald was murdered. 

William Gougar. 

Jacob Simons Deposeth and saith that he was 
acquainted with Archibald McGlauflin and that 
he last saw him about the first week in March at 
his fathers that there was a hardness between 
him and Esquier Van horn, 

Jacob Sammons. 

Truman Smith Deposeth and saith that he 
was well acquainted with Archibald McGlauflin 
Jr has seen the body found in the Hickory Creek 
near Havens saw mill and that he verally believes 
it to be the body of the said Archibald McLaugh- 
lin that he had been frequently at the house of 
Archibald McLaughlin in the absents of the said 
Archibald McLaughlin and that the family told 
him he had gone to search for his son who he 
believed was murdered he recognizes said body 
from its length its teeth its shape and all its 
appearances to be the body of Archibald Mc- 
Laughlin Jun and also by its hair. 

Truman Smith. 

Abraham C. Vanhorn deposeth and saith was 
some acquainted with Archibald McLaughlin last 
saw him in February last about 4 or 5 rods east 



68 Cass Street Sketches 

of Mathew Van horns in the highway had some 
conversation with him thinks it was Saturday in 
the afternoon the somewhat cold don't know that 
said Archibald had any particular enemy Never 
had any conversation with Mr. Gowger on the 
subject of Archibald McLauflin son receiving a 
letter from his son Archibald McLauflin jur that 
a report was raised which 1 herd at Mr, Robert 
Smith 4 to 6 weeks since that Archibald had 
murdered a man somewhere on fox river or the 
Due page that George McCoy inquired for his 
father to testify at Thornton witness lives about 
3 miles from this place that he did not know that 
it was the bady of Archibald McLauflin or not 
that it was his opinion from all the light that he 
had on the subject after the witness told him it 
was the opinion of some that it was Archibald 
McLauflin jur he said it was his opinion that old 
Mr McLauflin had dug up some other body and 
put it into the creek for the purpose of clearing 
his bail and throwing suspicion on his father and 
others that they were the murderers of Archibald 
McLauflin jur heard that the body had been 
found on Wednesday and on the same evening 
heard that the body was exposed and that indi- 
viduals had commenced for examination 1 was 
then living and working within three miles of 
the place when the body was found and have 



Cass Street Sketches 69 

remained there until this time and should not 
have been here at all had it not been that I was 
told that I was wanted as a witness. 

did not see the body did not search for the 
body has worked with Archibald McLauflin jur 
about 5 or 6 days during the harvest of 1839 at 
Mr Rows and eat at the same table at the same 
time lived within about 17 miles and seen him 
frequently since he was about the medium 
height thick set think he was 22 or 3 years old 
full faced large and striking in appearance black 
hair or very dark saw some of his hair and thinks 
it was the same in appearance thinks his teeth 
were rather short round favored and rather short 
that on Monday last my father was at my house 
left on the same day said he was going to Mr 
Bartholts Mr Hoby lives between my house and 
said Barthols on the road my father passed my 
house on Monday morning following on his way 
as I understood to Mr Markers who lives about 8 
miles east on the Sac Trail did not see my father 
since until Wednesday about oclock at Juliet. 
Abraham C. Van Horne. 

Mrs Janet McLauflin Deposeth and saith is the 
wife of Archibald McLauflin jur and the mother 
of Archibald McLauflin jur he was about the 
middle sise dark or black hair lost one of his fore 



70 Cass Street Sketches 

teeth round forard or rather oval saw him last 
about 9 o'clock the morning of the last Wednes- 
day of February last gowing down the road west 
towards Mathew Van horns said he was going to 
Cagwins mill to work for Mr. Wood his trunk 
and cloths all at home except what he had on 
he took no change of clothing with him had on a 
coarse linen working shirt such as he worked in 
mornings to the best of her recollection never 
intimated to me that he had any of going of but 
said nothing should drive him from this place 
but death until the cause was tried for which he 
was bound over my son said to me that he was 
threatened by old Van horn meaning esquire 
Vanhorn I told him not to go by the house he 
said that the road was made to travel in and he 
should not turn out for any man in the day time 
On or about the last Monday of last March Sarah 
and myself went up to Mr Hoby and Sarah in 
my presence asked Mr. Hoby to let her see the 
order that he swore he had at the trial referring 
to the trial of State against Archibald McLautlin 
as I understood said Hoby moved as though he 
intended to get the order I then spoke and said I 
wanted to see the order too because I could then 
tell at what time you got the money that he 
swore to at the aforesaid trial Mr Hoby then said 
he should not let me see the order for a examina- 



Cass Street Sketches 71 

tion that said Hobey repeatedly said that he had 
the order and I can produce it at any time on 
Sunday previous to his leaving for the last time 
Archibald and his father were conversing in rela- 
tion to the trial aforesaid and the evidence nec- 
essary to be produced on that trial and among 
other evidence he produced a paper and said to 
his father here is the order that Hobey gave to 
Basset or partner on Tuesday in the evening I 
saw as he told me the same order In his hands 
and I advised him to leave it at home he said no 
mother if the house should get afire I should 
have nothing to confute Hoby testimony he was 
24 years of age In a convasation in relation to 
the robing of Cramer C C Vanhorn said to Archi- 
bald McLauflin jur I will wreck you and ruin you 
this convasation was a few days before the ex- 
amination of said Archibald before Esq Van Horn 
and Merick for the robery of said Cramer at D. 
Willsons House I have not seen my son since 
February above referred to when he went away 
nor have received any letter from him or heard 
from him in any shape. JENNET McLauHLIN. 

Elizabeth Colwell Deposeth and saith that she 
was present when Mrs McLauflin and deautur 
cauled upon Mr Hoby for a certain order Mr Hoby 
replied that he would produce the order but did 



72 Cass Street Sketches 

not Sarah she afterwards asked mister Hoby if 
he had the order he answered that it was his 
business or something to that import this con- 
versation took place some time last spring. 

her 

Elizabeth (X) Colwell. 

mark 

Mathew Van horn Deposeth and saith is ac- 
quainted with Archibald McLauflin sen saw him 
last at Joliet at a suit in which Archibald Mc- 
Lauflin jr was plaintiff and said witness defend- 
ant this was some time in the month of February 
last to the best of my recollection says that to 
his knowledge he heard no conversation between 
C C Vanhorn and said Archibald neither in the 
office on the stairs or out of doors says he saw 
the body but did not touch it or examine it alone 
or with Mr Berthol says he thinks the hair did 
not correspond with the hair on the head of 
Archibald McLauflin jur. 

Matthew Van Horne. 

George Evans Deposeth and saith was ac- 
quainted with Archibald McLauflin jur of middle 
statute 5^ ft high dark complexion one tooth 
missing seen him last about the middle of Febru- 
ary last the hair agreed very well with the color 
of said Archibalds hair the body looked very 



Cass Street Sketches 73 

much like Archibald McLauflin jur and I believe 
was the same hunted cows with him about a 
week before he was missing in the woods. 

George Evans. 

Lysander Denny Deposeth and saith is not 
intamately acquainted with Archibald McLaufllin 
suppose him to be over five feet high rather 
thick set black or dark colored hair on examining 
the body believed it to be the build of Archibald 
the hair on his head in the water appeared to 
resemble his from what I could discover the body 
appeared to be recently put in the water about 
10 or 12 rods above Havens saw mill or Hickory 
Creek my reason for thinking this was that 
there was marks of a wheel barrow in and out 
of the creek and on the bank and also discov- 
ered a piece of rope with hair lieing near it hav- 
ing the resemblance slime being dried. 

on further examination found wheel barrow 
tracks resembling those at the creek where the 
body appeared to have been thrown in along the 
road 40 or 50 rods and found these bunches of 
hair resembling that on the head of the body at 
the several places said witness discovered a 
waggon tract come from the South to near the 
place where the wheelbarrow tract was found 
and returned the same road said tract had the 



74 Cass Street Sketches 

appearance of being made at the same time with 
the wheel barrow tract On said witness measur- 
ing the tract of the waggon so found finds that 
it agrees with same but Matthew Vanhorns have 
measured 15 or 20 wagons and tracts. 

Lysander Denny. 

Cornelius C Vanhorn Deposeth and saith was 
acquainted with Archibald McLautlin jur saw 
three letters taken out of the postoffice by Mr 
Holderman on Wednesday the 15th day of July 
postmarked one Randolph, Pennsylvania, one 
Meadville. Ohio, one Rock River, Rapid. 

Cornelius C. Van Horne. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me. 

Joel George, 
Coroner of Will County. 

We, the jury, having been duly sworn by Joel 
George, Coroner of Will County, diligently to 
inquire and true presentment make in what 
manner and by whom the Deceased body was 
found lieing in Hickory Creek where the water 
was about two feet deep about twelve or fifteen 
rods east of Philo Havens saw mill on the fif- 
teenth day of July one thousand eight hundred 
and forty came to his death after having heard 
the evidence and upon full inquiry concerning 



Cass Street Sketches 75 

the facts and a earful examination of the said 
body do find that the deceased came to his death 
by violence and by some person or persons un- 
known to the jury and that the said body has 
upon it the following mark and wound and which 
this jury find to be the cause of his Death towit. 
The body had the appearance or the body of a 
man and believed to have been dead several 
months the flesh cleaving from the bons the skull 
intirely broke acrost from ear to ear having an 
entire piece broke out from the right side of the 
length of three or four inches commencing at the 
crown of the head and extending from the right 
side to the ear having on a coarse cotton shirt. 

Lewis Woods foreman (ss) 

Francis Owen (ss) 

John Holman (ss) 

Simeon Brown (ss) 

John Atkinson (ss) 

John Wear (ss) 

L. M. Clayes (ss) 

David Ketchmen (ss) 

Andrew Moore (ss) 

Elisha Curtis (ss) 

William R Rice (ss) 

Wm Vanssekle (ss) 



76 Cass Street Sketches 

I Joel George Coroner in and for the County 
and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the 
foregoing is a true statement of the proceedings 
had before me of and concerning the death of 
the said deceased. 

Given under my hand and seal this 18 day of 
July A D 1840 JOEL GEORGE, 

Coroner of Will County, 

III. 
(on back) 

Verdict of Jury on Dead body up Hickory 
Creek 

Filed September 2d 1840 
Levi Jenks 
Clk 

In a short time, a letter to McLaughlin, written 
somewhere in Pennsylvania, was opened by con- 
sent of the postmaster, and proved to be from 
Archibald McLaughlin, Jr. 

McLaughlin and his wife had good reason to 
fear the vengeance of the outraged community, 
and, without stopping to say good-bye to their 
neighbors, left the country. 



Cass Street Sketches 11 

This cleared up the whole mystery, fully 
showed the conspiracy, and proved the innocence 
of C. C. Van Home, and he became, if possible, 
more popular than ever. 

He taught the first school in Hickory Creek 
Settlement in the winter of 1832-1833; was the 
first postmaster in Will County, and first justice 
of the peace in Hickory Creek precinct. He was 
a member of the bar, and had his office at Chel- 
sea until he removed to Joliet, where he practiced 
law and became the first mayor of the city. 

George H. Woodruff, historian of pioneer days 
in Will County, says: "Perhaps the most promi- 
nent of the persons named above, in our history, 
was C. C. Van Home. He taught the first school 
in the vicinity, in the winter of 1832. His place, 
in the point of timber that makes out into the 
prairie in which are the camp grounds of the 
Methodist brethren, was known in the early days 
as 'Van Home's Point' He was a marked char- 
acter, well and extensively known throughout 



78 Cass Street Sketches 

Cook County, of which we then formed a part. 
He was one of our most useful citizens in those 
days, transacting the business of the early set- 
tiers and aiding them in obtaining their claims 
and land titles." 

One July night, in 1854, when death's swift 
messenger, cholera, came for the old pioneer, he 
knew it meant: 

" I have a journey shortly to go, 
My Master calls, — I must not say no." 

William Cornelius Van Home 

William Cornelius Van Home is the eldest son 
of Cornelius Covenhoven Van Home by his sec- 
ond marriage. He was born at Van Home's 
Point, in New Lenox, in February, 1843. 

When about thirteen years of age, he left 
school and went into the Illinois and Mississippi 
Telegraph office at Joliet, and there learned to 
telegraph on the old-fashioned instruments then 
in use. 



Cass Street Sketches 79 

He had a natural fondness for the arts and 
sciences, especially geology, and spent what time 
he could spare from business in study and ram- 
bling along the streams, among the quarries, and 
in the forests in search of fossils and Indian 
relics, and in 1859 and '60 was president of the 
Agassiz Club, which had rooms on the fourth 
floor of the Will County Bank building. As the 
rooms were open to visitors, the club thought it 
would be the proper thing for a certain benevo- 
lent lumber merchant to contribute the lumber 
for shelving and cases, in which to place their 
collection of fossils and relics. The committee on 
lumber were very much astonished, when they 
made their application for the donation, to be 
indignantly refused on high religious grounds. 
He refused to contribute anything towards 
the advancement of a pretended science, 
which refutes the Bible history of the world. 
However, William Adam, the old Scotch Presby- 
terian lumber merchant, was more liberal in his 



80 Cass Street Sketches 

views, had no fears for the Bible, and generously 
gave the club all the lumber it wanted. 

An aspiring young geologist, not a member of 
the club, had by some chance come into posses- 
sion of a rare geological specimen, which was 
much coveted by two members of the club, but 
the owner refused to part with it without a valu- 
able consideration. So these young men of 
genius pooled their knowledge of geology and 
chemistry and manufactured a much rarer speci- 
men, placed it on the shelves, and, to cut a long 
story short, the embryo geologist cut his geologi- 
cal teeth by biting at the bait, and traded his 
genuine specimen for the artificial. 

it was fortunate for the two leading spirits of 
the club that they could prove an alibi the night 
that straw man was hung from the top of the old 
Joliet Signal printing office building, next the 
club rooms, and dangled there on the morning of 
a certain Saint Patrick's day in March, 1859. 

When the subject of this sketch was about 



Cass Street Sketches 81 

fourteen years of age, he painted and constructed 
a panorama about three hundred feet long, and 
exhibitions were given in a tent on the corner of 
Herkimer and Benton streets, under the firm 
name and style of W. C. Van Home, Proprietor; 
H. C. Knowlton, Secretary and Treasurer; Henry 
E. Lowe, Business Manager. 

One Sunday, this same William C. and Henry 
C. conspired to take a day off from church and 
Sabbath School, and go for a stroll down the 
canal tow-path to the Auxable aqueduct. On 
the return trip, the geologist of the expedition 
had the misfortune to lose his favorite twenty- 
cent geological straw hat in the water, and the 
swift slack water of the canal soon carried it 
beyond his reach. Some future geologists may 
marvel much at this "find" in the "drift" of the 
I. & M. Canal, and logically conclude, from the 
enormous size of the petrified crown and brim, 
that there were "giants in those days." 

In 1857 he went into the office of the Michigan 



82 Cass Street Sketches 

Central Railroad Company at Joliet. At this 
time, the Cut-Off road had no telegraph line, but 
in 1861 a line was built and he became its first 
operator at Joliet. In 1864, he went to the Chi- 
cago, Alton & St. Louis station at Joliet, as ticket 
agent and operator, — remained there till about 
1866, when he became train-dispatcher at Bloom- 
ington, then superintendent of telegraph, then 
assistant superintendent of the C, A. & St. L., 
with headquarters at East St. Louis, residing at 
Alton. He was then called to the North Missouri 
R. R. as superintendent, which position he held 
about two years. He was next appointed super- 
intendent of the Southern Minnesota R. R. Co., 
with headquarters at La Crosse. He made a 
great success in the management of this road, 
which gave him a reputation as an executive 
officer of superior ability. 

This was a road of about two hundred and 
twenty miles, and in the hands of bond-holders. 
They wanted a superintendent who could man- 



Cass Street Sketches 83 

age the road so as to pay a certain amount. He 
made it pay far in excess of what they required, 
or expected. 

He was called back to the C, A. & St. L., as 
superintendent, with headquarters at Chicago.N 
During this service with the C. & A., he had the 
general charge of the construction of its road 
from Louisiana to Kansas City, about two hun- 
dred and forty miles. He next received a tempt- 
ing offer of the general superintendency of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, about the year 
1880 or 1881, with headquarters at Milwaukee. 
He had acquired such a reputation as builder 
and manager of railroads in the United States 
that he was called into Canada to take charge 
of a long division of the Canadian Pacific, from 
Winnipeg west. His work on this five hundred 
mile division west of Winnipeg was of such a 
character as to attract the attention of the gen- 
eral officers of the Canadian Pacific, and resulted 
in his being placed in charge of the laying out 



84 Cass Street Sketches 

of the Canadian Pacific, west to the coast. At 
the completion of this road, he was elected 
vice president and general manager, and upon 
the declination of Lord Mount Stephen to act as 
president, he was elected president. 

When he went to Canada, he was about the 
only, if not the only, American connected with 
the Canadian Pacific Co. He did not take men 
from the United States, but picked the best men 
he could get in Canada for their respective posi- 
tions. Thus he was not troubled with race 
prejudice, jealousies and bickerings among the 
employes of the road. The entire equipment of 
the Canadian Pacific is the best that money can 
buy, and everything is of the finest. 

The man in control of the Canadian Pacific 
Railroad must needs be a man of great political 
influence. A Knight would obviously have 
greater influence than a plain citizen, no matter 
what his ability. Two years ago he was 
Knighted by Queen Victoria, and now bears the 



Cass Street Sketches 85 

title of Sir William Cornelius Van Home. He is 
by nature, education and experience calculated 
to carry his honors and dignity well. He has a 
commanding presence, self-acquired and practi- 
cal education, inherited intuitive knowledge of 
men and affairs of business, indomitable will- 
power and energy, always master of himself and 
the situation, be it what it may; never at a loss 
for expedients or resources, either in the practical 
construction and operation of a railroad, or in 
councils of potential financial magnates. 

An artist, by nature and special study, he has 
a thorough knowledge of Japanese art and litera- 
ture, and his Montreal mansion is adorned with 
many grand and rare pictures. 

His summer home in Novia Scotia bears the 
euphonious family name of Covenhoven. 
Although he has had little time fot foreign 
travel, his position at the head of this great 
trans-continental railroad gives him an extensive 
business and social connection. 



86 Cass Street Sketches 

The old pioneer friends and neighbors of his 
father have watched with pride his successful 
and rapid ascent to the top round of the ladder 
of fame and prosperity, and the boys who knew 
him best in his boyhood days can all bear testi- 
mony that his early record is sans tache, and are 
glad to know that in his life the sunshine has 
followed the shadows of the toils and struggles 
of his fatherless boyhood. 

Count Rumford? 

Yes, Count Rumford — Benjamin Thompson, is 
legitimately entitled to a page in Cass Street 
Sketches, and Hon. John M. Thompson is the 
connecting link. The interesting information 
was incidentally elicited from the Major while he 
was partially under the influence of a narcotic, 
in the form of a fragrant Havana, that Benjamin 
Thompson — Count Rumford — was an ancestor 
of his, and thus, through the Count the Thomp- 
son ancestry can be authentically traced back 



Cass Street Sketches 87 

beyond the Pilgrim Fathers to the time of William 
the Conqueror. 

Readers of American history will remember 
that Benjamin Thompson was born in Woburn, 
Mass., March 26, 1753; that he taught in an 
academy in Rumford (now Concord), New 
Hampshire, in 1770, married a wealthy widow in 
1772, and was commissioned a major of militia 
by the royal governor of New Hampshire. The 
jealousy of the older officers resulted in a charge 
of disaffection to the colonies; he was driven 
from his home and took refuge in Boston with 
General Gage, was subsequently tried at Woburn, 
not condemned but refused acquittal, and refused 
a commission in the Continental army. When 
Boston fell into the hands of the Patriots, it was 
he who carried the dispatch announcing the fact 
to England, where he was subsequently ap- 
pointed Under Secretary of State. 

In 1781 he returned to America, organized a 
regiment of dragoons, and received the com- 



88 Cass Street Sketches 

mand, with rank of lieutenant colonel. After the 
war he returned to England, obtained leave of 
absence to visit the continent of Europe, and, by 
permission of the English government, entered 
the service of the elector of Bavaria, who 
Knighted him. In 1784, he settled in Munich, 
and reorganized the entire military establish- 
ment. In 1790, he undertook to suppress beg- 
gary in Bavaria, which had become almost a 
legitimate profession. In this undertaking he 
was successful, and was also successful in estab- 
lishing a military school, in the improvement of 
the breed of horses and horned cattle, and the 
conversion of an old hunting ground near Munich 
into a park. A monument in his honor was 
erected in this park by the grateful inhabitants. 
Thus, driven from his native land by the ani- 
mosity and jealousy of his enemies, emoluments 
and honors were showered upon him in a foreign 
country. Successively raised to the rank of 
major-general in the army, member of the council 



Cass Street Sketches 89 

of state, lieutenant-general, commander-in-chief 
of the general staff, minister of war, and count 
of the holy Roman empire, on which occasion he 
chose as a title the name of Rumford, his Ameri- 
can home. In 1795, he returned to England on 
a visit, and was robbed of a trunk containing all 
of his private papers, and his original notes and 
observations on philosophical and scientific sub- 
jects. 

In 1796, when Bavaria was threatened by the 
war between France and Germany, he returned 
and was appointed head of the council of regency 
during the absence of the elector, and maintained 
the neutrality of Munich. Among the many 
honors conferred upon him for this service, he 
was appointed to the superintendency of the 
general police of the electorate. 

Determining to return to England on account 
of his health, he was appointed minister to the 
court of Saint James, but refused recognition by 
England on account of the English doctrine of 



90 Cass Street Sketches 

inalienable allegiance. However, he remained 
in England, and was the main instrument in 
founding the royal institute. In 1799, he gave 
up his citizenship in Bavaria and settled in Paris. 
In 1804, he married the widow of Lavoisier, with 
whom he resided at the villa of Auteuil until his 
death, August 21, 1814. 

He was a natural philosopher, devoted much 
of his life to scientific research, more especially 
to the subject of heat and light, and wrote valu- 
able scientific books on the correlation of forces. 
He bequeathed a large sum of money to Harvard 
University for founding a professorship of physi- 
cal and mathematical sciences. 

Hon. John M. Thompson 

In the study of a character, often that which 
seems phenomenal and unaccountable becomes 
perfectly plain and clear when the key is ob- 
tained and the mystery solved. 



Cass Street Sketches 91 

The key which most frequently solves the 
mystery of the characteristics of a character is 
heredity, or atavism — intermittent heredity, 
whereby traits of character may be traced back 
to a remote ancestry: for not only are the "sins 
of the fathers visited on the children even unto 
the third and fourth generation," but also the 
mentality and virtues. These traits and qualities 
may perhaps disappear for one or more generations 
and reappear in a marked manner in posterity. 

A close observer, believing in the principle of 
heredity, although a stranger to Major Thomp- 
son, would not be long in forming the conclusion 
that he was not an ordinary man, and would be 
most likely to classify him among the dreamers 
and scholars, if this observer were also a be- 
liever in phrenology and physiognomy, he would 
be still further confirmed in his first impressions, 
and, as time and acquaintance ran on, and he 
was permitted to hear the Major recount in his 
graphic and easy manner the portents of his 



92 Cass Street Sketches 

life's history as he " ran them o'er even from his 
boyish days," those first impressions would be 
confirmed to a mathematical demonstration. 
Major Thompson was by birth an alien to the 
United States, for he was born at Yarmouth, 
Canada, which is politically, if not geographi- 
cally, a foreign land. When nine years of age, 
he came with his father and the other members 
of the family to Winnebago County, Illinois. 
After completing his education, he began his 
business career as clerk in a store and postoffice 
at Roscoe, and next took charge of his brother 
Clark's business at Hokah, Minnesota, for three 
years, then began the study of law. He assisted 
in raising a company of volunteers in 1861, but 
the regiment was already full when their services 
were tendered. He then went into his brother 
Clark's office, who was superintendent of Indian 
affairs, with headquarters at St. Paul. It was 
part of his duties to assist in making the govern- 
ment payments to the Indians, and thus he had 



Cass Street Sketches 93 

an extensive acquaintance with the noble red 
man and many interesting experiences. 

In October, 1861, he enrolled as a private in 
Co. K, Fourth Minnesota Infantry, and partici- 
pated in ten of the hardest fought battles of the 
war; among them, luka, Corinth, Jackson and 
Champion Hills. In the last named battle he 
was shot through the left lung, very near the 
heart, reported mortally wounded by both Union 
and rebel officers, and left on the field; but his 
indomitable recuperative powers kept him alive 
and eventually restored him to health. He was 
kept in a rebel prison for six months and then 
exchanged. From the ranks he was promoted 
to first lieutenant of his companv, then adjutant 
of the regiment; unanimously elected captain of 
Co. E. In 1863 he was promoted to be first major 
of cavalry and assigned to duty with the Second 
Minnesota. This regiment took part in the Indian 
war in the northwest, and he was appointed to 
the command of Fort Ripley. 



94 Cass Street Sketches 

That Major Thompson was popular in his old 
home is evident from the fact that while he was 
vibrating between Illinois and Minnesota he was 
elected to the State Legislature of Minnesota by a 
good majority, but the opposition raised the ques- 
tion of residence and proposed to contest his elec- 
tion. TheMajordid notcareenoughfortheposition 
to fight for it, and let his adversary take the seat. 
In the brief life of the lamented Greenback party, 
he received the nomination for secretary of state, 
by acclamation. That he is popular in his own 
county is manifest from the fact that in a Repub- 
lican district he was nominated by acclamation 
in a Democratic convention and elected to the 
Illinois Legislature. That he is both a practical 
and theoretical farmer, a political economist, and 
commands the respect of the farmers of his own 
and other states, is a matter of record, and a 
record of which any man and his friends might 
well be proud. As a Granger, he is known across 
the continent. He was Master of the State 



Cass Street Sketches 95 

Grange for six years, and visited nearly every 
county in the state delivering addresses and pro- 
moting the interests of the association. That his 
labors were eminently successful is certain from 
the fact that the Grange was $1,700 in debt when 
he was first elected and had $3,000 in the treasury 
when he went out of office. 

In 1887 he was elected trustee of the State 
Grange of Illinois and Patrons of Husbandry, and 
in 1889 re-elected to the same office as a mark of 
appreciation of the prosperity which the order 
was enjoying under the business management 
of himself and colleagues. At Springfield, in 
1890, he was elected chairman of a conference of 
the four organizations: The Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, 
Farmers' Alliance and Knights of Labor, which 
formed a federation known as The Farmers' and 
Laborers' Conference, and Major Thompson was 
elected its first president. 

As a representative from this state, he attended 



96 Cass Street Sketches, 

the meetings of the National Grange at Wash- 
ington, D. C, Topeka, Kan., Sacramento, Cal., 
Springfield, Ohio, and Syracuse, N. Y., and has 
frequently been called to other states to assist in 
organizing the order and delivering addresses. 

To be a leader and instructor of the great mass 
of intelligent farmers composing these organiza- 
tions, in matters of vital importance to their 
welfare and prosperity, a man must needs be 
capable and endowed with a genius for organiza- 
tion and generalship. 

Thus it will be seen that the subject of this 
sketch, this scholarly dreamer, has had a goodly 
share in the active drama of life: business, war, 
politics, political economy and grangerism. 

In the quiescence of a country mansion, amid 
environments of a mellow landscape, a broad 
domain of fields combed with plows, brushed 
with harrows, shaved with reapers, the Major, in 
peaceful prosperity, is enjoying an idyllic life at 
Cherry Hill, where the sunbeams filter through 



Cass Street Sketches 97 

the leaves and branches of grand old forest trees, 
and the graceful bending willows kiss the water 
lillies along the banks of old Hickory. 

Silver Cross Hospital 

"O, woman, in our hours of ease, 
Uncertain, coy and liard to please, 
And variable as the shade 
By the light quivering aspen made; 
When pain and anguish wring the brow, 
A ministering angel thou !" 

Man in his normal condition, in the plenitude 
of physical and mental faculties with which he 
is endowed by his Creator, is a creature, self- 
reliant, proud of spirit, whose wisdom and indom- 
itable will overmasters and overcomes most of 
nature's opposing forces. Nevertheless, " Man 
that is born of woman is of few days and full of 
trouble." Disease, fell forerunner of decay and 
death, instantaneously or insidiously steals upon 
him, and he languishes helpless as an infant in 



98 Cass Street Sketches 

its nurse's arms; saying in his agony, in bitter- 
ness of spirit, All is vanity, much is folly, much 
is evil. The joys, pleasures, mirth, loves and 
hatreds; the ambitions of life, the delights of his 
eye, his possessions, his treasures, the joys of 
his heart, sink into insignificance and fade away 
when health gives up the ship to sickness. 

Disease, accidents, come alike to all sorts and 
conditions of men; to the young and the old; to 
prince, pauper and peasant; the wise and the 
foolish. That which has happened, is constantly 
happening, and may at any hour of the day or 
night happen to any one of this poor race of 
men, who, to-day in the full flush of life and 
health, may to-morrow be cut down. 

Is it not then the part of wisdom to provide for 
emergencies liable to occur and constantly occur- 
ring. When sickness comes and the shadows 
hover over, coming ever nearer, ever darker, 
until the curtained night seems coming down to 
close out the light of life, and the faltering feet 



Cass Street Sketches 99 

seem slipping into the valley of the shadow: high 
upon the hill, a prominent feature in the land- 
scape, a prominent monument of the benevo- 
lence, altruistic nature and humanity of this 
people, stands Silver Cross Hospital! a haven of 
rest, its portals ever open for the pain-racked 
bodies, worried minds, work-worn hands, and 
weary feet of suffering humanity, with its corps 
of doctors and troop of nurses to help them back 
to health, — and hence to happiness. From the 
first inception of this humanitarian enterprise of 
practical philanthropy, it has been pre-eminently 
the work of women, and their zeal has never 
flagged or faltered. 

At a meeting of a Circle of King's Daughters, 
in discussing the subject of benevolence for 
which they might work, the suggestion was 
made that they furnish a room in a hospital. 
This small seed, thus planted in the fertile soil of 
sympathetic hearts and active minds, grew into 
an offer of a donation of four acres of land to the 



100 Cass Street Sketches 

King's Sons and Daughters, on condition that 
within a limited time they should erect on the 
donated site a hospital costing not less than ten 
thousand dollars. It was the influence of one of 
the young ladies of this Circle that secured the 
land; the influence of another member of the 
same Circle which secured the generous ten 
thousand dollar donation; and it has been the 
work and influence of women which has secured 
many of the subscriptions to the building and 
maintenance fund of Silver Cross Hospital. 

The first money raised for Silver Cross Hospi- 
tal was earned by a little girls' Circle of King's 
Daughters dressing dolls with their own small 
fingers and selling them in the basement of the 
Central Presbyterian Church. 

And ever since this youthful effort, the heads 
of ladies and girls have been busy planning 
ways and means to raise funds for hospital pur- 
poses, from holding their tongues under strong 
provocation to use them every evening for a 



Cass Street Sketches 101 

week (in the pantomime of Ben Hur), up to run- 
ning the street railway, and down to selling 
newspapers on the street. 

That which Harriet Martineau wrote in her 
autobiography over sixty-five years ago in rela- 
tion to woman and her rights reads today like 
prophecy: "The best friends of the cause are the 
happy wives and mothers and the busy, cheerful, 
satisfied single women, who have no injuries of 
their own to avenge, and no painful vacuity or 
mortification to relieve. The best advocates are 
yet to come, — in the persons of women who are 
obtaining access to real social business, — the 
female physicians and other professors in Amer- 
ica, the women of business and the female artists 
of France; and the hospital administrators, the 
nurses, the educators, and the substantially suc- 
cessful authors of our own country. * * * * 
Women, like men, can obtain whatever they 
show themselves fit for. Whatever woman 
proves herself able to do, society will be thankful 



102 Cass Street Sketches 

to see her do. If she is scientific, science will 
welcome her, as it has welcomed every woman 
so qualified. I believe no scientific woman com- 
plains of wrong." 

Old Schools 

On March 8th, 1853, the following ad. appeared 
in the Joliet Signal: 

SCHOOL EXHIBITION 

In reply to a call of Messrs. C. C. Van Home, 
R. E. Barber, S. W. Bowen, Wm. Adam, V. H. 
Prentiss, Benj. Richardson, A. Cagwin, R. Doo- 
little, E. C. Fellows, F. L. Cagwin, J. T. McDou- 
gall, E. Harwood, T. Lenander, J. Wooley, Jr., 
James M. Haven, G. Rochel, Joel W. Northup, 
F. E. Barber and many others, relative to a 
repeated exhibition, after consulting my students, 
I, with them, cheerfully accede to the proposition, 
and appoint Friday evening, March 11, at the 
Court House, and respectfully offer the following 
programme: 



Cass Street Sketches 103 

PROGRAMME. 
PART 1. 

Introduction Miss Robinson 

Address Master Van Home 

Address Master Wilder 

The Hard Name. 

Willowbough Miss Tye 

Smith Miss Eastman 

Brown Miss Robinson 

Vinegar Miss Robinson 

Mr. White Rendall 

Betty Miss Van Bosl<erk 

Address Murphy 

Address : Miss Eastman 

Address Elwood 

Music by the Millspaugh Family. 

PART II. 

Double Rent, or the Gent in the Attic. 

Printer Harrington 

Mrs. Bouncer Miss Tyler 

Hatter Elwood 

Address Miss Ingham 

Aunt Betty and her Niece (names omitted) 

Music by the Millspaugh Family. 

PART III. 
Arnold's Treason— Original. 

Arnold Murphy 

Mrs. Arnold Miss Tyler 

Andre Elwood 

Greene Worthingham 



104 Cass Street Sketches 

Jamison McClure 

Paulding Harrington 

Van Wert Rendall 

Williams Burnside 

Executioner Whitemore 

Soldiers in uniform. 

PART IV. 

Address Rendall 

A Western Court Scene. 

A Duel Down East in 1812. 

A Fourth of July Celebration. 

Address Kercheval 

Address Rendall 

Closing Address Miss Tyler 

Single tickets, 15c; double tickets 25c. 

The proceeds will be placed in the hands of a 
committee, who will distribute the same for chari- 
table purposes. S. O. SiMONDS. 



The Old Brick School House 

[Joliet Signal, Tuesday, May 1, 1855:] 

SCHOOL HOUSE DEDICATION. 

The ceremonies of the dedication of the splen- 
did school house in District No. 2 in this city took 
place on Friday last. 

The day was propitious, and a multitude of our 
citizens attended the exercises. 




THE OLD BHICK SCHOOL HOUSE 



Cass Street Sketches 105 

An appropriate dedicatory prayer was made 
by Rev. Josiali Gibson of tlie First Methodist 
Church of this city. An able address was deliv- 
ered by Prof. Dorr, of Chicago, which was 
listened to by an attentive and approving audi- 
ence. The audience was also addressed by Hon. 
G. D. A. Parks, of this city, in an eloquent and 
beautiful manner. 

The singing and music by Messrs. Stillman, 
Munger and others was delightful, and displayed 
a correctness of execution seldom equalled. 

The mechanics, Messrs. R. D. Brown & Co., are 
entitled to great credit for the skill displayed by 
them. 

The citizens of this school district may justly 
feel proud of this monument to their enterprise 
and regard for education. 

Prof. J. H. Hodges, a gentleman of learning and 
great experience, has been employed as superin- 
tendent. From our slight acquaintance with 
him, we believe he is just the man to take charge 
of the school, and that it cannot fail to prosper 
under his control. 

He is assisted by Misses E. A. Wood, E. Duzen- 
bury, S. Richards, Jane Kercheval, J. Runyon 
and Mrs. Glass, ladies of high reputation as 
accomplished and experienced teachers. 



106 Cass Street Sketches 

The school will be divided into three depart- 
ments: the primary, the intermediate and high 
school department. The course of instruction in 
the latter will be the same as that in the best 
academies of the East. 

Scholars will be received from abroad on rea- 
sonable terms. 

Men may cavil at sentiment, and, for fear of 
"wearing their hearts upon their sleeves for daws 
to peck at," assume the cynic's air, yet, there is 
always something about the boyhood home, 
something about the boyhood school-house, 
which lures them back in later life to muse in 
reminiscent mood upon the past, with its host of 
half-forgotten recollections, hallowed by time and 
distance; the long ago, when youth, faith and 
hope cast a glamour over an ideal future, never 
to be realized; the time before they took Care for 
a companion and received misfortune and disap- 
pointments as frequent and unwelcome visitors. 
The road may have been up-hill all the way, the 
to-days, filled with regrets for the yesterdays and 



Cass Street Sketches 107 

gloomy forebodings of the to-morrows: times 
when they have felt the utter nothingness of 
everything but wretchedness. 

About the year 1854, a three-story brick school 
building was erected on the present Eastern 
Avenue school grounds. It stood but a few feet 
from the south line of Cass street. This building 
was destroyed by fire Saturday, February 21, 
1863. 

During its life-time it furnished all the school 
privileges required for the city east of the river. 

The Old Brick School House still lives in the 
memory of those who were summoned from 
refreshment to labor by the ringing of the school 
bell in the belfry. 

The little Entered Apprentices came into the 
primary department on the ground floor, with 
their slates, pencils and primers for working tools, 
and their white aprons as badges of innocence 
and ignorance, — passed up the first flight of 
stairs to the Intermediate, where they rested for 



108 Cass Street Sketches 

a while in a sort of purgatory, until they were 
old enough and qualified to be raised to the sub- 
lime High School, in the third story; there to 
receive the necessary discipline and instruction 
and have unveiled to their receptive minds some 
of the most important truths of knowledge, in 
the High School were conferred the highest 
degrees of learning capable of being conferred 
in Joliet at that time. 

Here each day fresh flowers bloomed in learn- 
ing's fertile fields, whose lasting, subtle fra- 
grance, retained in memory's halls, comes floating 
forth at call to soothe, sustain and cheer. 

About the years '58, '59 and '60, Augustus G. 
S. AUis, from the East, was Grand Master in this 
temple of learning. As a "guide, philosopher 
and friend" for youth, he performed well the 
duties of his high office, and was by nature and 
education qualified to grace and adorn almost 
any position in life. 

In the basement there was an old, hot air heat- 



Cass Street Sketches 109 

ing apparatus, which had been abandoned, as it 
was so constructed that it carried the heat up 
the chimneys and the smoke through the regis- 
ters into the school rooms. 

The furnace was sold for old iron and the pro- 
ceeds applied toward fitting up a gymnasium, 
the first one in Joliet. 

This made a fme kindergarten for aspiring 
young athletes, with the "Champion's Belt" for 
the prize. 

Among the students at the fall term in 1858 
were a number of boys from the country, who 
gave glowing descriptions of country sports, and 
especially coon hunting. This being the coon 
season, a party of about twenty-five was soon 
organized for a night's raid up Hickory Creek. 

The most important requisite for coon hunting 
is a dog or dogs. Any old thing will do, as it 
is a well known fact that a dog that is good for 
nothing else often makes a first-class coon dog. 

It was soon ascertained that one of the boys 



110 Cass Street Sketches 

owned an undivided half interest in a full-blooded 
mongrel, in whose composite nature it was 
imagined there might be lying dormant an inher- 
ent coon hunting propensity or faculty. This 
boy undertook to borrow the other undivided 
half from his brother. The pup had been 
acquired by the boys in a trade with old Steve 
Cleverly, a well known horse doctor. 

This dog had inherited from some of his 
remote ancestors a propensity for fighting, but, 
unfortunately, he had but little real ability in 
that line; just enough to make him always ready 
to sail into a fight, and wade out in a damaged 
condition. His spirit was willing but his flesh 
was weak. To enable him to hold his own, in 
these little affairs of honor, his proprietors pro- 
vided him with a throat and chest protector, in 
the form of a sharp-toothed brass collar. This 
proved a howling success. The other dogs 
howled when they tackled the pup with the 
barbed collar. 



Cass Street Sketches HI 

The night of the coon hunt, the dog imagined 
he had struck a trail, and led that band of "Inno- 
cents Abroad " right into a melon patch. The 
dog's heart was in the right place — he meant 
well, but it was an error in judgment. While 
the boys were trying to untangle themselves 
from the clinging vines, the dog went off to the 
farmer's house and woke up "Old Dog Tray, 
Blanche, Sweetheart, and all the little dogs." 
From the noise they made, it seemed as if there 
were enough of them to make a dog fence around 
a quarter section of land. 

When that breathless band of coon hunters 
pulled themselves together in a scheduled spot 
in the timber about a mile away from the melon 
patch, every one answered at roll-call, including 
the dog. Not a man or dog had been lost or 
mislaid, but some of the melons had clung to the 
boys and joined in the retreat. 

When the camp-fire was kindled and the ham 
and beefsteak broiling over the coals, vegetables 



112 Cass Street Sketches 

were roasting there too, which may have come 
from "Shaw's Gardens "(on Cass street — not St. 
Louis.) 

Consternation fell on those midnight maraud- 
ers, when that collarless dog loomed up in the 
glow of the fire-light for his share of the beef- 
steak. 

''We are lost'' the captain shouted, "That 
collar has the owner's name engraved on it." 

Strong boys wept like girls. The veil is drawn 
over the painful scene in that camp-fire's red 
light and no music. 

When the school-house was deserted on Satur- 
days and in summer vacations, one who knew 
the way could find a nice, quiet, breezy, shady 
place to spend a hot afternoon by raising a base- 
ment window, passing in, and up the two flights 
of stairs, thence up the belfry ladder and out 
upon the roof, it was a rare spot to sit with a 
magazine or novel and only cooing pigeons for 
companions. The broad amphitheatre of the 



Cass Street Sketches 113 

Hickory and Spring Creek Valley, with its mosaic 
of green fields of grass, corn, golden grain, and 
meandering lines of rippling streams, girt round 
about with green-walled hills, was a scene well 
planned to please the eye, and a fine setting for 
meditations. 

To the right, the tall elevator, offices, round- 
house, transfer house and stock-yards, filled with 
lowing cattle, squealing hogs, and shouting stock- 
men, goading unwilling beasts through the 
shutes into stock cars. 

Out on Cass street, the large and pleasant 
homes of Henry D. Higinbotham and Daniel C. 
Young, and across the street the cosy " Mills- 
Lowe-Cottage," with the well-worn foot-path 
leading back to the railroad, thence down to 
Scott street, and which might have led to the 
divorce court, — but it didn't. 

Beyond, the high-fenced Fair Grounds and 
long white Horticultural Hall, soon turned into 
camp grounds, barracks and headquarters for 



1 1 4 Cass Street Sketches 

volunteers, who came at their country's call to 
join the 20th and 100th Regiments, and offer up 
their lives to save the Union. 

At the foot of Ridgewood Hill, the large, gray, 
weather-beaten barn and white house of the old 
pioneer of 1830, Robert Stevens, one of the two 
first white settlers in Joliet township. Indistinct 
in the distance, at the foot of Forest Park Hill, 
the home of Luther Woodruff, where Simeon 
Woodruff spent his boyhood days in breaking 
colts and oxen, feeding the flocks and herds, 
mowing grass and cradling grain, then crossed 
the plains in '59 to cradle sand and dig for gold 
in California. 

This panorama had, among its signs of life, 
farmers coming from the country with loads of 
hay, grain and wood; the slow, long procession 
on the way to Oakwood; a flock of boys soon to 
be transformed into undressed kids in " Blue 
Clay" swimming pool in Hickory Creek, with 
no fear of tramps stealing their dress suits; the 



Cass Street Sketches 115 

coming and going of trains on the railroads, and 
trains of hoosier wagons with emigrants, who 
came over the old Sauk trail from the East, and 
passed through the fertile lands of Illinois and 
Iowa, to join the ranks of Free Soilers and help 
hold at bay the "Border Ruffians" in "Bleeding 
Kansas," or pass on over the plains through 
"Death Valley" to the land of gold. These were 
some of the scenes in the days of peace, the days 
of calm, before the storm of war. 

Samuel L Worrell 

Brilliant; with varied talents, Samuel L. Wor- 
rell, valedictorian of the Class of '60, seemed to 
have before him a life full of promise, and there 
was never a thought that he would be the first 
to pass away from the scenes of earth. 

Although out of school, he had consented to 
sing at the closing exercises of the summer term. 
His selection was the beautiful, pathetic song of 



116 Cass Street Sketches 

Benjamin F. Taylor's, "The Isle of Long Ago," 
He practiced it once or twice at his home with 
one who was to sing with him, but failing health 
prevented his fulfilling the engagement. This 
was undoubtedly the last time his fine voice was 
ever heard in song on earth. 

New and strange were the sensations of his 
comrades, who had scarce seen any of the 
shadows of life, as they watched in silence and 
sadness by his bedside through the summer and 
fall of the memorable presidential campaign 
before the war. 

At the winter solstice, when the days were 
shortest and the nights longest, before the dawn 
of Christmas, his brief, bright term of life had 
closed. For him, time had ceased and eternity 
commenced. 

Near forty years have come and gone and 
borne one by one of the students to the silent 
land, but they still hold a sanctuary in the hearts 
of their classmates who remain. 



Cass Street Sketches 117 

The worth and merit of many of the ladies 

belonging to the Old Brick School House, both 

teachers and scholars, far transcends the power 

of one poor pen to portray, — the responsibility is 

too great for one man to attempt to do it justice. 

The pleasant task should be divided between at 

least three most competent gentlemen: Edward 

P. Bailey, Henry C. Knowlton and William J. 

Adam. They could, if they would, produce 

many very interesting sketches entitled: 

Some lovely ladies we used to know, 
When we were school-boys,— not long ago. 

The High School Literary Society 

" Keep a thing; its use will come." 
In the fall of 1858 a literary society was organ- 
ized and did business for two or three years 
under the firm name and style of " The High 
School Literary Association," and the articles of 
copartnership were called " The Constitution and 
By-Laws." 



1 1 8 Cass Street Sketches 

Several years ago, during the upheaval of 
house-cleaning, the secretary's book was found 
in a badly mutilated condition, resembling a 
game rooster after a fight — badly scratched and 
many tale feathers missing. However, its strong 
constitution, by-laws, and some of its members were 
saved, and the remains were at once consigned 
to the custody of Misses Charlotte A. and Lucy 
H. Akin, who have carefully preserved them in 
lavender and rose leaves, and bound up in tissue 
paper. 

The names found in this book formed the 
nucleus for a roll-call of over six hundred schol- 
ars, who answered "present," at the "Old Brick 
School House," in the long ago. 

That the constitution and by-laws were not 
drafted by a lawyer, is evident from the fact that 
there is nothing said as to location — neither city, 
county, state or country, being named. If the 
book had been found away from home, by a 
stranger, he could not have told whether it 



Cass Street Sketches 119 

belonged in America, Australia or Africa. 
Gentlemen only, were eligible to the otfices of 
president, vice president, treasurer and finance 
committee; ladies to the offices of secretary and 
critic; officers to be elected monthly; meetings 
every Friday evening; first and third meetings 
each month; the exercises to be conducted by 
ladies; second and fourth by gentlemen. Admis- 
sion fees ten cents; monthly dues five cents; 
officers fined twenty-five cents for each neglect 
of duty; refusing to take part in exercises when 
appointed by the president, a fine of not less 
than twenty-five cents nor more than fifty cents; 
misbehavior or improper language, ten to twenty- 
five cents. 

Order of exercises for ladies' night: Music, 
roll call, secretary's report, reading of "The 
Gleaner," music, criticism of oration and essay, 
report of committees, miscellaneous business, 
intermission, music, reading from select authors, 
ladies' orations, recital of poems, music, dia- 



120 Cass Street Sketches 

logues, essay, gentlemen's oration read by lady, 
critic's report. 

Gentlemen's night: Music, roll call, secretary's 
report, reading of "The Gleaner," music, criti- 
cism on essay, criticism of oration, miscellaneous 
business, intermission, music, debate, music, 
essay, oration, critic's report, music. 

Among the most frequent bills audited were 
those for camphene at ninety cents a gallon for 
lighting. This was before the advent of kerosene 
lamps. 

Some of the debates were on the following 
questions: 

Resolved, That the progress of a nation de- 
pends more on the morals of the people than on 
its natural resources. 

Resolved, That it is better to be too credulous 
than too superstitious. 

Motions for adjournments for a sociable were 
carried unanimously, and invitations to attend 
the exercises of the Young Men's Literary Asso- 



Cass Street Sketches 121 

ciation, a rival institution, were always gratefully 
accepted — especially by the ladies — for some of 
these literary young men were formidable rivals 
in a personal way. To show what those school- 
boys had to contend against, it is only necessary 
to mention the names of a few of the prominent 
members of that more pretentious society which 
had a library and gave a lecture course with 
imported talent: "Gave" Elwood, "Doc." Wood- 
ruff, Arba Waterman, "Gust" Osgood, A. B. 
Thompson, Harlow N. Higinbotham, W. C. Good- 
hue, "Dick" Busted, Will Zarley, John Shaw, 
"Eg" White, Will Wagner, H. A. Sanger, "Hank" 
Elliott, Fred Bush, "Dick" Willis, "Pate" Smith, 
"Doc." Hand, "Doc." Casey, "Tom" Cagwin, 
"Doc." Salter, Otis Skinner, "Tom" Leddy, 
"Hank" Perrigo, E. B. Shaw, H. D. Stearns, U. 
Mack, "Ed." Bush, Lyman Munger, Elias Whited, 
Ethan Howard, "Jim" Farovid, Orr Woodruff, 
Frank Demmond, "Tom" Turner, John Dodge. 
Many of these young men were interested in 



122 



Cass Street Sketches 



either scholars or teachers, as the marriage license 
records of Will County show. 



(A)— "Absent' 
call in heaven. 



ROLL CALL. 

' on earth — "Present" at roll 



LADIES. 



Charlotte A. Akin 
Lucy H. Akin 
Helen O. Aidrich 
Helen A. Allen 
Florence M. Allen 
Antoinette Austin (A) 
Maria Austin 
Ella Austin 
Mary Allen 
Hattie Adle 
Kate Alpin 
Jennie Bush 
Mary E. Brown 
Amelia Brown 
Georgiana Brown 
Eliza S. Briggs 
Tinnie Briggs 
Arlette Berry 
Sarah M. Bergen 



Cynthia H. Bailey 
Bertha Beam 
Rosa H. Beam 
Anna Beam (A) 
Clara Beam 
Louise Bergen 
Voisa Brownson 
Isadore Brownson 
Mary Brownson 
Nancy Bolton (A) 
Fannie Bliss 
Arvilla Bissell 
Mary Bissell 
America Bissell 
Carrie Barker (A) 
Sarah Barker 
Ella Bowman 
Lizzie Birdsell 
Josephine Broadie 



Cass Street Sketches 



123 



Louisa Broadie 
Julia Blancliard 
Miss Bettelyon 
Frances Burr 
Margaret Beattie 
Mary E. Burke 
Adelle Button 
Amanda Benedict 
Eliza Bowen 
Mary Casseday 
Rosa Cagwin 
Alice Cagwin 
Eunice Cagwin 
Charlotte Cook 
Libbie Cole 
Louisa Cole 
Arabella Crawford 
Luella Crawford 
Luella Culver 
Alice Clement 
Ella Congdon 
Miss Carew 
Carrie Chidsey 
Chidsey 
Kittle Crews 
Mary Clark 
Emma Clark 
Miss Crossett 



Marion Crosley (A) 
Mary Carl in 
Jennie Coon 
Theresa C. Doolittle 
Georgiana Doolittle 
Jennie Davison 
Rachael D. Davison 
Mary Demmond 
Paulina Duncan 
Mary Duncan 
Kittle Duncan 
Julia Duncan (A) 

Abbie Denton 
Jennie Dalton (A) 

Josie DeZeng 

Miss Duffey 

Alice Downey 

Jennie Davis 

Amanda E. Davis (A) 

Martha Dewey 

Sarah Duffield 

Carrie Day 

Bertha Day 

Kittle Donnelly 

Annette Earl 

May Eldred 

Julia Einstein 

Charlotte Einstein 



124 



Cass Street Sketches 



Martha Flack 
Sarah Filer 
Mary Filer 
Puella Filer 
Mary A. Fuller 
Julia E. Fellows 
Margaret Finegan 
Maria Flaught 
Lucy Fry 
Flora Frost 
Belle Flack 
Anna Grinton (A) 
Mary Grinton 
Mary Graves 
Mary Gookin 
Euretta M. Green 
Sophronia Glidden (A) 
Eunice Goodspeed (A) 
Gertrude D. Higin- 

botham (A) 
Ellen Higinbotham (A) 
Carrie Hatton 
Hattie Hatton (A) 
Alvira Hardy (A) 
Amelia Hardy (A) 
Juliet Hardy (A) 
Mary Hardy 
Althea Hawley 



Hattie Hackley 
Lottie Hackley 
Agnes Hoyt 
Julia Howard 
Margaret Henderson 
Jennie M. Heath 
Helen Henry 
Lulu Harwood 
Cornelia Hill 
Miss Holmes 
Dealtia Hull 
Ella Hill 
Mary Harrington 
Helen Harrington 
Lydia Harrington 
Emmeline Hill 
Frank Hill 
Sarah Hatch 
Ella Hubbard 
Cora Humphrey 
Ida Humphrey 
Rose Hammond 
Ellen Hartigan 
Maggie Hartigan 
Alice Hawley 
Eveline Hyke 
Maria Hendricks 
Laura Hubbard (A) 



Cass Street Sketches 



125 



Mary Hubbard (A) 
Anna Hyde 
Mrs. Hill 
Jane Hobbs 
Helen Mills 
Mary Ingraham 
Frankie A. Jones 
Alice Jones 
lola Jones (A) 
Ida Jackson (A) 
Clara Johnson 
Jennie Kidd 
Belle Kidd 
Cossie Kidd 
Mary King 
Evaline King 
Zadie Ketchum 
Agnes Kirk 
Margaret Kirk (A) 
Julia Kirk 
Ida Kendall 
Ellen Kelsey 
Hattie Little 
Luella Little 
Lottie Little 
Addie Little 
Olive Lawrence (A) 
Kate Lowe, 



Lucy Lawrence 
Sarah Lufkins 
Lucy Lufkins 
Kittle Logan (A) 
Lydia Lachman 
Lucy A. Munger 
Ella Munger 
Addie Munger 
Elizabeth Moore 
Emily Massey (A) 
Mary Massey (A) 
Hattie Milliman 
Jennie McGovney (A) 
Louisa McGovney 
Augusta McGinniss 
Kate McGinniss 
Addie McDougall 
Minnie McDougall 

(A) 
Augusta Metcalf 
Louise McRoberts 
Lizzie McRoberts (A) 
Jennie Munroe 
Mary E. Munroe 
Kittle McMurtie (A) 
Ella Mason (A) 
Fannie Mason (A) 
Ella Marsh 



126 



Cass Street Sketches 



Jennie McMaster 
Sarah McMaster 
Fannie Munson 
Jennie McArthur 
Llbbie McArthur 
Leonora Mizener (A) 
Helen Matthews (A) 
Agnes Malcolm 
Jessie Malcolm 
Llbbie Malcolm 
Mary Ann McCowliff 
Kate McCowliff (A) 
Mary Mclntyre 
Kate S. Nicholson 
Llbbie Norton (A) 
Jessie Norton 
Virginia Osgood 
Julia F. Osgood (A) 
Emma Osgood 
Helen M. Patrick 
Ida Patrick 
Hattie Perkins 
Adelia Pratt 
Ellen Phillips 
Nancy Palmer 
Martha Peck 
Emma Prince 
Mandana Prince 



Martha Prince (A) 
Hattie Prince 
Kittle Parks (A) 
Kate Periolat 
Artemesia Pritchard 
Cornelia Payfair 
Emma Parks 
Elizabeth Plckel 
L. Peck 

Mary E. Richards 
Jennette Richards 
Kittle C. Randall (A) 
Carrie Randall 
Belle Randall 
Eliza Radcliff (A) 
S. Anna Stevens (A) 
Mary Adaline Stevens 
Adelaide Stevens 
Alice Richardson 
Mary L. Storrs 
Mary Sawyer 
Ellen Sawyer 
Kate Snoad 
Anna M. Snoad 
Addle Stoddard (A) 
Permelia Stoddard 
Belle St. Clair (A) 
Lizzie Van Slyke 



Cass Street Sketches 



127 



Sarah Stanley 
Amelia Stanley (A) 
Ella Shaw 
Sarah Snapp 
Elizabeth Snapp 
Julia Sanford 
Ella Sanford (A) 
Addie Starbuck 
Pluma Smith 
Addie Simonds 
Etta Simonds (A) 
Shreffler 
H. Scarrett 
Irene Scarrett 
Trippie Scarrett 
Julia Stafford 
Miss Sloan 

Rosetta Simmonds 

Mary Simmonds 

Allie Stone 

PoUie Schwabacker 

Rose Snyder 

Miss Snyder 

Elmira Tonner (A) 

Alice Tonner 

Mary Thompson 

Jane Taylor 

Jennette A. TuUock 



Avaline Tullock 
Sarah Tanner 
Susan Tighe 
Melissa Van Auken (A) 
Sarah Jane Van Auken 

(A) 
Mary Ann Van Auken 

(A) 
Eva Van Auken (A) 
Mary Van Home 
Elizabeth Van Home 
Sarah Van Doozer 
Marion Woodruff (A) 
Mary Woodruff 
Florence Woodruff 
Catharine Webster 
Charlotte Webster 
Louise E. White 
Mollie Woodruff 
Kate E. Worthingham 

Lydia Worthingham (A) 
Addie M. Wade 

Elinor M. Wheeler 

Hattie Wheeler 

Olivia Worrell 

Sallie Worrell 

Eva S. Weeks 

Harriet A. Whited (A) 



128 



Cass Street Sketches 



Charlotte Wheeler 
Melvina Wheeler 
Lillie Wheeler 
Miss West 
Agnes Williams 



John J. Akin 
Edward C. Akin 
Andrew R. Adam 
William J. Adam 
Frank E. Allen (A) 
George Allen 
Mortimer Allen 
Franklin Amsden 
Edward P. Bailey 
Thaddeus Constantine 

S. Brown 
R. Stewart Brown 
Rufus Bolton (A) 
Abel Bliss 
Joslyn Blackman 
Spencer Blackman 
Samuel Bowen 
Fred Barker 
Carl Briggs 
Frank Burr 
Albert Bowen 
Herbert Benedict 



Cornelia Williams 
Clara Wixom 
Juliet Wells 
Josie Young 
Florence Young 
GENTLEMEN. 

Henry Button 
Charles Beam 
Philip Brider 
Charles Bowman 
George Blanchard 
John Bridge 
Charles Bridge 
Hamden A. Cagwln(A) 
C. Gates Chapman (A) 
Henry C. Chapman 
Leroy F. Cagwin 
Harry F. Cagwin 
Abijah Cagwin 
Oscar Cook 
O. P. Curran 
Henry A. Crawford 
Michael J. Cavanagh 
Hugh Carlin 
Joseph Carlin 
Arthur C. Clement 
Nathan P. Collins (A) 
Harry Crews 



Cass Street Sketches 



129 



Munroe Clark (A) 
Willis Casey (A) 
Eugene Cady 
Charles Casey 
Timothy Connor 
Michael Clabby 
George Carew 
Charles Cole 
Congdon 
James Clark 
Carberry 

Herbert W. De Loss (A) 
Eben B. Doolittle (A) 
George Doolittle (A) 
Jesse Doolittle 
Russell Dennis 
Henry Dennis 
George Dyer (A) 
Daniel B. Dyer 
George Denton 
George Duncan 
Edward Duffey 
Alexander Duffey 
William De Zeng 
Peter Dewey 
Willis Danforth 
Edward Donahoe 
Daniel Devine 



Henry J. Dorre 
Willis Davis 
James G. Elwood 
John W. Edmunds (A) 
Fenner Eldred 
Benjamin Einstein 
Willis Emery 
A. Allen Francis 
Frederick Foster 
George W. Flaught 
Robert Fellows 
James Finnerty 
George M. Fish 
Solomon Frost 
Alvin Filer 
Murmuth Ford 
James Flaught 
Richard Gardner 
Henry Gardner 
Samuel Gaton 
Charles F. Gritzner 
Augustus Gritzneri(A) 
William Grinton 
Edward Grinton 
Algernon S. Glass 
Frederick Gookin 
William Ganson 
Harlow N. Higinbotham 



130 



Cass Street Sketches 



Thomas H. Hutchins 
John I. Heath (A) 
William J. Heath (A) 
George R. Hill (A) 
Daniel C. Henderson 
James E. Henderson 
John D. Henderson 
Augustus H. Howk (A) 
John Preston Howk (A) 
Frederick M. Howk 
Rodney House 
Martin Hawley 
Perry J. Hobbs 
James R. Hobbs 
Sumner Harrington 
Charles Higinbotham 
George Hill 
Thomas Hartigan 
John Hatton 
Reuben Hatton 
Leroy Heath 
Albert Heath 
Daniel Hendricks 
Thomas Hendricks 
John Hendricks 
Frank Hildebrant (A) 
Jacob A. Henry, Jr. 
Jacob Harwood 



Samuel Hill 
Hobbs 

Joseph Hubbard 
Thomas Hawley 
Myron Holmes 
Melford Hull 
Adison Holmes 
Walker Hill 
James K. Ingersoll 
Josiah ingersoll 
Albert S. Jones (A) 
Alvin Joslyn 
Frederick A. Jackson 
Henry Jackson 
Theodore Jackson 
George Johnson 
Howard M. Johnson 
Henry C. Knowlton 
Edward R. Knowlton (A) 
John H. Kercheval 
John T. Kidd 
Neriah B. Kendall 
William Kennedy 
Frank Ketchum 
Augustus F. Knox 
Cadmus Kendall 
William King 
Seymour King 



Cass Street Sketches 



131 



Clevins Kendall 
Henry E. Lowe 
James P. Lowe (A) 
Augustus Larrieu 
Lorenzo Larrieu 
James Leddy 
William Loomis 
Charles Lawrence 
Frank Lawrence 
William Lemon 

Henry Logan 

Lufkins 

Levi L. Metcalf (A) 

Alvin A. McGovney (A) 

Charles V. Marsh 

William Marsh (A) 

John McGinnis 

Charles H. Millspaugh 

Frank McRoberts 

Joseph McRoberts 

Henry Massey 

John McCuUoch 

Simeon McCowliff (A) 

Flake Mead 

Major Mead 
Melville Mead 
John Malcolm 
Lycurgus McCann 



James H. Matthews 
William McMaster 
Bernard McNiff 
F. Mason 
Martin Norton 
Algernon S. Osgood 
Henry Osgood 
Henry Oborn 
John O'Neil 

Henry R. Pohl 

Leo Schaeffer 

Major Stoddard 

Harvey N. Stoddard 

Romaine Stoddard 

William Starbuck 

Orange R. Smith 

Stapleton 

John W. Tighe 

Paul Tanner (A) 

Lisle Tanner 

George Tullock 

Berry Taylor 

George Taylor 

William C. Van Home 

Augustus C. Van Home 
Theodore Van Home 
Thomas Van Auken 
Cassius Van Auken 



132 



Cass Street Sketches 



Irvin Van Doozer 
Frederick W. Woodruff 
Henry T. Woodruff 
Samuel L. Worrell (A) 
Alvin Wilcox (A) 
George H. Wade 
John Wyatt 
William Worthingliam 

(A) 
Jacob Worthingham 
Schuyler Walker 
Elias H. Whited 
Charles Whited 
Jesse Whited 
Nelson Weed 
John F. Wilson 
Henry H. Warren 
Robert White 



James L. Hodges 
Mr. Gibson 
Augustus G. S. AUis 
James A. AUis 
P. C. Royce 
James Johonnott 
Sarah N. Curtis 
Miss Moore 
Sarah Doosenberry 



Orange Wheeler 
Eugene Wilder 
Heman Webster (A) 
George Washburne 
Whiting 
Webster (A) 
Frank Young 
George Young 
Henry Williams 
Charles Wells 
Henry Wheeler 
De Loss Williams 
Charles Walker 
Asa Wells 
Lewis Williamson 
Eugene Walker 
Williamson 
Harvey Wixom 
TEACHERS. 

Mary E. Gooding 
Eliza S. McGinnis 
Maria B. Craig 
Anna C. Craig 
Jennie R. Combs 
Aliss Meigs 
Miss Rice 
Adele Jennings 
Ellen M. Williams 



Cass Street Sketches 133 

Julia Runyon Sarah Richards 

Miss Ayer Emily Goodspeed 

Mrs. Glass (A) Carrie J. McArthur 

Abbie A. Denton Mary C. Chamberlin 

S. Anna Stevens (A) M. Sophia Sawyer 

Theresa C. Doolittle Bertha L. Beam 

Sophronia Ketchum Julia Patterson 

Mary Donnell Anna M. Snoad 

Jane Kercheval Lucy Chase 

[Joliet Signal, February 24, 1863.] 

FIRE— HEAVY LOSS. 

The large brick school house, situated in the 
second district of this city, was burned on last 
Saturday (February 21, '63). 

Smoke was discovered issuing from the east 
end of the edifice about 11 o'clock in the fore- 
noon and the alarm was immediately given, but 
before any one could reach the spot the flames 
burst through the roof, and soon the whole top 
of the building was a sheet of fire. The fire 
department was on hand in due time, but the fire 
had made such progress that it was impossible 
to check it, though the engine continued to play 
upon the burning structure for hours. 

There had been no fire in the building that 
day, and hence it is supposed it must have 



134 Cass Street Sketches 

caught from the fires of the day before and 
burned until that time before bursting out. The 
loss to the city cannot fall short of $20,000. 
Insured for $3,500. 



Nelson D. Elwood 
James G. Elwood 
W. A. Steel 

"To what base uses may we come at last ! 
Imperial Csesar, dead, and turned to clay. 
Might stop a hole to turn the wind away." 

For many years, Hon. N. D. Elwood lived on 
the corner of Cass and Scott streets. Here, there 
were wont to gather many of the political 
and financial magnates of the old regime, in the 
palmy days of the Illinois and Michigan Canal — 
in the early days of Joliet and the Chicago and 
Rock Island and Cut-Off railroads; when railroad 
directors, canal and penitentiary commissioners 
and contractors, banqueted on choice viands and 
discussed the inside facts of current topics in the 



Cass Street Sketches 135 

odor of the fragrant Havana, to the accompani- 
ment, perchance, of popping "green seal corks." 

It is no marvel that, with such early surround- 
ings, James G. Elwood inherited and developed 
rare social qualities, fine talent as a presiding 
officer and parliamentarian, and, as a post pran- 
dial speaker, is the Chauncey M. Depew of Joliet. 
"Where MacGregor sits is the head of the table." 
At the present time, Joliet has two "Little 
Giants" at Springfield: Hon. George H. Munroe 
in the Senate; Hon. James G. Elwood in the 
lobby: both worthy and well qualified, duly and 
truly prepared for the arduous task of protecting 
the interests of the city and its citizens in the 
river road. 

The old homestead was for some years owned 
and occupied by Hon. W. A. Steel, for four terms 
the talented, genial and popular mayor of the 
city. His annual receptions are well remembered 
by Joliet's "four hundred," as brilliant social 
events. 



136 Cass Street Sketches 

But, alas, how all has changed ! Where once 
unbounded hospitality reigned, and delicate, de- 
licious deserts were served, may now be heard 
the waiters' call of "draw one" and "make it 
two," for the old home has degenerated into a 
common tavern or boarding house. 

Not least among the claims of this old house 
for consideration and respect is the fact that it 
has seen better days and that it has been the 
home of three popular mayors: Nelson D. El wood, 
William A. Steel and James G. Elwood; this being 
the only instance where a father and son have 
been mayors of the city of Joliet. 

rirst Hospital 

The old stone house next south was Joliet's 
first hospital. On the night of November 1, 1854, 
a horrible accident occurred on the Chicago and 
Rock Island railroad. A passenger train struck a 
horse, which threw the engine down the em- 



Cass Street Sketches 137 

bankment and two passenger cars on top of it. 
Escaping steam poured into the cars, scalding 
over sixty passengers, twelve of whom died im- 
mediately. 

It was a pitiful sight to see those scalded 
people when they were brought to town in the 
morning and removed to this hastily improvised 
hospital. 

The citizens volunteered their services, and 
everything was done which could be done to 
alleviate their sufferings. Four more died and 
many were horribly scarred for life. 

As a mark of appreciation of her valuable ser- 
vices as nurse, Mrs. O. F. Rodgers secured from 
the officers of the Chicago and Rock Island Rail- 
road Company a life pass over their road, 

Hon. Jesse O. Norton 

The fact that this book will be published on 
the corner for so many years the home of Hon. 
Jesse O. Norton, brings this once prominent citi- 



138 Cass Street Sketches 

zen and model Christian gentleman vividly to 
mind. 

Born in Bennington, Vermont, a graduate of 
Williams College, he began life as a teacher, first 
at Wheeling, Penn., then in Missouri. He came 
to Joliet among the pioneers of 1839. His ability, 
integrity, courteous ways and winning manners, 
soon made him a most popular citizen, and he 
made rapid progress socially, professionally and 
politically. He was elected County Judge in 
1846, re-elected in 1848, elected delegate to the 
Constitutional Convention in 1848, sent to the 
State Legislature in 1852, re-elected in 1854, 
elected Circuit Judge in 1857, sent to Congress 
again in 1862 to help preserve the Union in dark 
rebellion days. In 1866 he was appointed Dis- 
trict Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, 
removed to Chicago, and was lost to Joliet until 
August, 1875, when all that was mortal was 
interred at Oakwood. 



Cass Street Sketches 139 

Hon. William 5. Brooks 

Hon. William S. Brooks became the owner of 
the Norton homestead and occupied it until the 
demand for this corner for business purposes 
tempted him to part with it. Mr. Brooks, was for 
many years a most prominent figure in Joliet's 
business, social and political life, held many posi- 
tions of responsibility, honor and trust, and in 
all acquitted himself with ability and integrity. 
At the time of his decease he was president of 
the Will County National Bank. 

Dr. Alfred Nash 

Centrally and conveniently located on Cass 
street is the combination office and home of Dr. 
Alfred Nash. 

Although not one of the old settlers, he is well 
known and popular, a typical family physician, 
one of the grand army of men, whose noble mis- 
sion in the world is to come at call to cure the 



140 Cass Street Sketches 

cause or alleviate the suffering of frail humanity. 
Men who must need have philosophic minds and 
strong constitutions to stand the strain, the wear 
and tear imposed upon them both day and night. 

John D. Paige 

John D. Paige — but that's another story, from 
Renaissance up to date — the reformation of the 
fire department; the taming and training of the 
police force; innovations; fire alarm and patrol 
wagon — enough for a book. 

George Woodruff 

Sudden death came and claimed George Wood- 
ruff, the business man's friend, one afternoon 
near the close of October in 1882, and it brought 
sadness to the city, for he was a man among 
men, beloved and respected by all who knew 
him. 

He was born at Watertown, N. Y., December 
12, 1812, and came to Joliet in 1836; engaged in 



Cass Street Sketches 141 

farming and merchandizing until 1852, when he 
built a warehouse on the basin near the corner 
of Cass and Desplaines streets, where he bought 
grain until 1864. 

The Joliet Bank was established about 1857 
by Mr. Woodruff, Francis L. Cagwin, and others. 
In 1864, the First National Bank was organized, 
with Mr, Woodruff, president, and his son, Fred- 
erick W. Woodruff, cashier. 

He had lived on the corner of Cass and Ottawa 
streets for many years, but was permitted to 
enjoy his beautiful new house on the old site but 
for a short time, when, by an unfortunate acci- 
dent at the Joliet elevator, his useful life was 
brought to an untimely end. 

The old homestead is now the home of his 
daughter, Mrs. J. Fred Wilcox, and the First 
National Bank is practically under the entire 
control of his son, Frederick W. Woodruff, its 
president, who seems to have inherited his 
father's financial ability. 



142 Cass Street Sketches 

As president of the bank, Mr. Woodruff was 
always at his post during business hours, re- 
spectful, courteous and considerate alike to 
depositor or borrower, and to the young business 
man he was as a financial father, to whom they 
could go for counsel and help. 

With his good common sense, experience and 
intuitive knowledge of business and men, he 
seldom made a financial mistake; himself never 
hurried or worried, he never hurried or worried 
others. 

Always clear-headed and frank, there was a 
wholesomeness and heartiness about Mr. Wood- 
ruff which made men glad to take him by the 
hand. 

On the sunny side of Oakwood, where the 
sun's rays and the moonbeams glisten on the 
evergreen and granite, a monument is erected in 
memoriam of George Woodruff. 

It seems a coincidence and preserving of the 
unities that this should be near and face a great 



Cass Street Sketches 143 

commercial monument, in the founding of which 
he tooi< a leading part, and the last sad scene of 
his busy life. Day and night the ceaseless 
rumbling of wheels and busy buckets breaks 
upon the stillness of the silent city, murmuring 
requiems for the departed. 

Edward Akin 

There is a quaint old brick house on the north- 
west corner of Cass and Ottawa streets, which 
has seen better days, for it was once the home of 
Edward Akin, a well-remembered, popular old 
citizen, the proprietor of Akin's Addition, or 
Brooklyn, as it is generally called. 

Mr. Akin was a man of strong individuality, 
energetic, generous and social in his nature. He 
had no such word as "can't" in his vocabulary. 
Obstacles never discouraged, but stimulated him. 

At one time the church, of which he was one 
of the trustees, had quite a large indebtedness, 
and at a trustees' meeting to consider the matter, 



144 Cass Street Sketches 

when a discouraged brother remarked, "We can't 
raise that much money in these hard times," he 
said, in his quick, impulsive way: "Can't raise 

it ; D it, we've got to raise it." And they 

did raise it. 

It was in this old home that John J. Akin and 
Edward C. Akin lived when they were school- 
boys, and were warned of breakfast time, school 
time and bed time by the old heirloom clock. 

This was also the home of Dr. Elvis Harwood, 
for many years a leading physician and mayor 
of the city in 1868-9. 

Thus this house has been the home of two 
popular mayors and an attorney general of the 
State of Illinois. 

Saint Marv's Convent 

The grand convent on one corner of Cass and 
Ottawa streets, and the elegant Methodist par- 
sonage on another, suggest the thought that 
Ottawa street is pre-eminently the church street 



Cass Street Sketches 145 

of Joliet. It has a Lutheran, a Methodist, a Pres- 
byterian, two Catholic Churches and a convent, 
which, if not to be classed as a church, is cer- 
tainly a sister to the church. There are also 
three parsonages, a Christian Science lecture 
room and a parochial school on this street. 



146 Cass Street Sketches 

Saturday Night on Chicago Street 

On this busy street, on Saturday night, 
When the sun has set and the electric light, 
Attempts the duty, in a limited way, 
To shine in the place of the bright God of day; 
And to the looker-on most distinctly shows 
That the people are out in their Sunday clothes. 
For its mostly working people you meet. 
On Saturday night, on Chicago street, 
How well the workingmen look and behave. 
When they've taken a bath and had a shave. 
Then, too, the young ladies, in nervous haste. 
Put on their best hat and a fresh shirtwaist. 
Demure as they look, they expect to meet 
Many gallant men on Chicago street. 
And on Saturday night the women appear, 
Who add to the census a baby a year; 
Buying dry goods, groceries, bread and meat; 
Trying boots and shoes on the children's feet; 
Buying provisions for the Sunday feast, 
From a roast of beef to a cake of yeast. 
Every saint and every sinner 
Alwaj's delights in a Sunday dinner. 



Cass Street Sketches 147 

Buying something nice for tlie girls to wear, 

A bright red ribbon to tie up their hair. 

On the Sabbath people are doubly blessed 

By being well fed and feeling well dressed. 

Any thing you want to wear, smoke, drink or eat. 

Can be had for a price on Chicago street. 

The butchers and bakers and dry goods stores 

As long as there is trade keep open doors. 

Strolling about in an indolent way, 

One cannot help hearing what people say. 

Passing up and down, in leisurely walk, 

One hears parts of very amusing talk, 

A part of a sentence, part of a word. 

The rest of the story cannot be heard. 

When they meet with their friends and wish to talk; 

Form a ring, shake hands and block up the walk. 

The drummers swarm around the hotel. 

And each has a sample story to tell. 

Then loud above all the racket and hum 

Is heard the noise of the banjo and drum. 

And above all the rest is heard the ringing 

Voices of the Salvation soldiers singing: 

For in this free street to each one we accord 

His own way of singing, and serving the Lord. 



148 Cass Street Sketches 

Now comes the man who has been blowing in 
His hard-earned wages for whisky or gin. 
If amusement you want and are not over nice, 
There is a vaudeville show at a low-down price. 
Hear the loud clanging of the hoodlum gong, 
Clearing the way through the scattering throng. 
Up the street, to the north, away they go. 
For the devil's to pay at "Whisky Row." 
The policeman comes an-d rattles the doors 
To make sure the clerks have locked up the stores. 
And now take notice how some men behave 
When they meet on the street a nymph du pave. 
Some men have a smile, and some have a frown, 
When passing by a woman of the town. 
Later, when the street is as clear as a farm. 
The department responds to the fire alarm. 
Men and horses must test their endurance, 
To get to the fire and save the insurance. 
The rest of the night it's a deserted street. 
No one to be seen but the "cop" on his beat. 



Cass Street Sketches 149 

Western Avenue 

As it is proposed to claim everything in sight 
for the honor and glory of Cass street, it is 
claimed that Western Avenue is, in fact, if not in 
name. West Cass street. Had it not been for the 
unfortunate rivalry and jealousy between the 
east and west sides of the river in early days, 
the street would undoubtedly have borne one 
name from east to west. 

James B. Campbell platted the original town 
or village under the name of his daughter, Juliet, 
and named one of the streets Cass. Dr. A. W. 
Bowen carried the street and name through his 
two subdivisions, East Joliet and Bowen's Addi- 
tion to Joliet; Francis L. Cagwin and Daniel C. 
Young continued it through their subdivision to 
the east city limits. 

Martin H. Demmond, the proprietor of West 
Juliet, named his street, running from the west 
end of Cass, Cross street, and some years ago 



150 Cass Street Sketches 

the City Council changed the name to Western 
Avenue. 



Cass Street Sketches 151 

Horatio N. Marsh 

Neither envy nor malice have ever had the im- 
pudence to say a word derogatory to the character 
of Horatio N. Marsh, one of the two remaining 
veteran editors of Joliet, except such little editorial 
courtesies as Cal. Zarley may have bestowed on 
him in the heat of a political contest. It is some- 
what amusing to those who know Mr, Marsh, to 
read the editorials of the adversary about the ma- 
lignant disposition of this amiable gentleman, for 
having insinuated that the Signal editors did not 
write all of their political editorials. 

Mr Marsh was born in Franklin County, Mass., 
November 15, 1812, consequently the war of 1812 
is one of the first important events which he does 
not remember, for, although he is now over three 
score and ten, he does remember about every- 
thing which has happened scince he was old 
enough to sit up and notice things. In 1835 he 
concluded to follow the apparent daily course of 



152 Cass Street Sketches 

the sun, and came to Joliet. Atthis time General 
Jackson was reigning at Washington and Gover- 
ner Joseph Duncan at Vandalia, then the capitol 
of Illinois. Will County was a part of Cook 
County, and the county seat at Chicago. Upon 
the organization of Will County in 1836, Mr. 
Marsh was elected school commissioner, and 
presumably wrote with a quill pen, used the sand- 
box instead of blotting paper, folded his letters 
and sealed them with wafer or sealing wax, and 
mailed them without envelopes; paid postage up 
to May 6, 1847, the date of the first issue of post- 
age stamps in the United States, as follows: Single 
letters, thirty miles, six and a half cents; thirty 
to eighty miles, ten cents; eighty to one-hundred 
and fifty miles, twelve and one-half cents; one 
hundred and fifty to four hundred miles, eighteen 
and three-quarter cents; over four hundred miles, 
twenty-five cents; California letters, forty cents. 
The Cook County commissioner had sold Joiiet's 
school section and become bankrupt, thus Joliet 



Cass Street Sketches 153 

received three or four thousand dollars for the 
entire school section, instead of thirty-five or forty 
thousand dollars. 

Dr. A. W. Bowen and Mr. Marsh were two of 
the first school directors of Joliet. 

By education and inclination a literary man, 
Mr. Marsh became ambitious to enter the field of 
journalism, and in 1847 bought the True Democrat 
of Alexander Mcintosh. 

Although not on earth in time for the War of 
1812; not in Illinois in time for the famous Black 
Hawk War; not an editor at the time of the Mor- 
mon War, he was, as editor of the True Democrat, 
in a position to take a lively interest in the 
closing exercises of the Mexican War, and sum 
up the results of a war which began with the 
battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, and ended when 
the stars and stripes floated above the national 
palace of Mexico, September 14, 1847 — at a cost 
to the United States of 25,000 lives, directly and 
indirectly; $165,000,000; the gain of a territory 



154 Cass Street Sketches 

seven hundred miles north and south by nine 
hundred miles east and west — enough for fifteen 
good-sized states. 

There was abundance of work for an editor 
during the five years Mr. Marsh edited the True 
Democrat. He had Whig editorials to write in the 
campaign which resulted in placing Zachary 
Taylor, the Whig candidate, in the presidential 
chair. The gold fever raged in all its fury from the 
discovery of gold at Captain Sutter's mill in 1848; 
the opening of the Illinois and Michigan canal; 
the great slavery contest was coming on; cholera 
was raging in Januury, 1849; Louis Napoleon was 
elected president of the French Republic. 

It sometimes took ten or twelve days to get 
mail from Springfield in those days. 

In 1852, Mr. Marsh sold the True Democrat back 
to Alexander Mcintosh, and took the position of 
agent of the Chicago and Rock Island railroad at 
Joliet. He sold the first tickets, and receipted 
freight bills in the southwest corner room of the 



Cass Street Sketches 155 

old court house. He was also the first express 
agent here, and as there was no safe, carried the 
railroad tickets and valuable express packages, 
stumptail and wild-cat currency, home with him 
at night, and sometimes slept soundly with as 
high as $30,000 under his pillow. In 1850, as 
assistant United States marshal, he took the 
census of Will County, and was postmaster of 
Joliet from 1864 to 1867, and has served several 
terms in the city council. 

Old Fort Nonsense stood on the site of Mr. 
Marsh's home. This was a stockade fort, built 
of upright logs set in the ground, and about eigh- 
teen feet high. 

From the time he first saw this commanding 
position, Mr. Marsh set his heart on it as his choice 
of a location for a home, and, as soon as he could 
do so, bought the lot, and in the summer of 1854 
built the house, in which he has resided until 
recently. 



156 Cass Street Sketches 

Hon. Royal E. Barber 

Most of the pioneers of the 30's have passed 
away or gone out of active life, and not one has 
kept up with the procession and in touch with 
the new generation as faithfully as Royal E. 
Barber. He is as full of life and interest in 
everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- 
munity as ever, and at the front with the young 
men of the city, representing the interests and 
contending for the rights of Joliet in the great 
drainage channel contest with Chicago. Still 
living on the well known corner where he planted 
his roof-tree over half a century ago, but now in 
an elegant home, solid and substantial enough 
for all the years that may come to him, and for 
future generations. 

His is a part and parcel of the history of this 
community. 

His many friends rejoice with him that he has 
been permitted to visit the Holy Land, the 



Cass Street Sketches 157 

geography and history of which he has studied 
a life-time. At last, he has trod the streets of 
Jerusalem, walked in the Garden of Gethsem- 
ane, stood on Calvary, crossed the Jordan, and 
sailed on the Sea of Galilee. But in all his wan- 
derings in Bible lands, the pilgrim found no guide 
who could take him to the Garden of Eden and 
show the spot where 

"Man's first disobedience, and the fruit 
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste 
Brought death into the world, and all our woe." 

As his eyes beheld the lands and scenes of 
sacred history, it must have been to him the 
fruition of fervant hopes, the realization of de- 
lightful dreams. 



158 Cass Street Sketches 

Harry r. Cagwin 

Harry F. Cagwin, with his usual inclination to 
take things easy and enjoy life as he goes along, 
has climbed but half way up and fastened his 
pretty Swiss cottage on the hillside; content to 
let such ambitious and adventurous spirits as G. 
M. Campbell, W. G. Wilcox, U. Mack, Thos. H. 
Hutchins and C. B. Hayward pass by him, to go 
for the "room at the top" and brave the wild 
western winds. He knows that although an 
east wind may blow steady and strong, one can 
place confidence in it and sleep while it sighs 
and moans around the gables and angles, for it 
never attempts anything in the hurricane or tor- 
nado line. 

rrancis L Cagwin 

Harry Cagwin is so well known that it is hardly 
necessary to state that he is the son of Francis 
L. Cagwin, one of the old colony of business 



Cass Street Sketches 159 

men, and one whose name appears frequently in 
old real estate records, banking and business 
transactions. Social and friendly by nature, he 
never flocked alone, but always had comrades 
about him. That he was fair and square in deal- 
ing, is well evidenced by his record of member- 
ship in partnerships, syndicates and corporations. 



160 Cass Street Sketches 

Hopkins Powell 

Up to this point, there has been no opportunity 
to connect the name of Hopkins Rowell, a pioneer 
of '34, with this street. We find him well repre- 
sented at last in the person of his son, Nat J. 
Rowell, and one can but regret that he, who had 
such confidence in the future greatness of Joliet, 
and was so enthusiastic in his admiration of its 
surroundings, could not have lived to enjoy the 
grand view from the home of his son, 

A part of this house was built many years ago 
by Joseph Campbell, its original owner, and 
afterwards became the house of William A. 
Strong, who enlarged the home and platted the 
farm into Glenwood, one of Joliet's beauty spots. 



Cass Street Sketches 161 

William G. Wilcox 

At first sight, it would seem as if there were 
no traces of old pioneers on Western avenue, but 
some of the sons of pioneers have fine homes 
here, and Edmund Wilcox is ably represented by 
his son, William G. Wilcox, one of the first to 
discover the desirability of this avenue for homes, 
beyond the brow of the second bluff. 

Edmund Wilcox 

Edmund Wilcox was a graduate of Hamilton 
College, Clinton, N. Y., and came to Joliet when 
about twenty years of age. College graduates 
were not plentiful in the west in those days, 
and Mr. Wilcox, by his ability and education, 
very soon came to the front, took and held ^ a 
leading position in the community during his 
life-time. 

He was a west side merchant, contemporay 
with Martin H. Demmond, Charles Clement, 



162 Cass Street Sketches 

George H. Woodruff, William A. Strong, Sr., Col. 
John Curry, Firman Mack, Francis Nicholson, 
P. A. and O. H. Haven, Horatio N. Marsh, 
William Adams, William C. Wood, Thomas 
Kinney, Micajah Adams, Deacon Josiah Beau- 
mont, Timothy Kelley, H. D. Risley, Colonel 
William Smith, Joel George, Patrick O'Connor, 
Eugene Daly, the Brown brothers, most of whom 
did business on Bluff street, and lived on Broad- 
way and Hickory streets, passing up and down 
the steep Exchange street hill together, in the 
middle of the road, before the day of either canal, 
railroad or telegraph, before East Juliet and West 
Juliet were married by legislative act and as- 
sumed the corporate or family name of Joliet. 
This union has been much blessed with off- 
spring, until the original Old Town of Joliet is 
surrounded and supported by its children, — its 
additions, suburbs and subdivisions. 

To the old-time citizen, it seems lonesome on 
those west side streets now,— so few of the pio- 



Cass Street Sketches 163 

neers remain; so many have passed from the 
rugged streets of earth to the pleasant paths of 
paradise,— happy habitants of the stars! 

For many years, Royal E. Barber was the only 
prominent resident lawyer west of the river, then 
Thomas H. Hutchins was adimtted to share the 
honors and the fees; D. H.Pinney broke into the 
ranks for a few years before he went away to 
become Judge Pinney. 

The west side never had the honor of a resi- 
dent judge until the advent of Hon. Charles B, 
Garnsey. It now seems to be a favorite location 
for lawyers, and a number of the most brilliant 
members of the Will County Bar are elegantly 
housed on and near Western Avenue. 



164 Cass Street Sketches 

Jerome P. Stevens 

Jerome P. Stevens, familiarly known as 
"Romey" around the Spring Creek neighbor- 
hood, where he was raised, has come back from 
Chicago, selected a choice lot on Western Ave- 
nue, and is erecting a fine, large, Chicago style 
residence. He is acting as his own superintend- 
ent, and will undoubtedly get the worth of his 
money and have a thoroughly well-built house. 
This genial young man has in his make-up the 
unusual but happy faculties of making friends and 
making money wherever he goes, and will make 
a desirable acquisition to the Western Avenue 
colony of progressive and enterprising young men. 

He had come to be considered, by the ladies, 
as a confirmed bachelor, when he surprised his 
friends by quitting his "wild oat" farming and 
marrying, it may be said, in passing, that he 
ruined one of his finest horses in making those 
frequent long drives to Mokena while matrimonial 
negotiations were pending. 



Cass Street Sketches 165 

Charles H. Talcolt 

Charles H. Talcott, a prominent resident of 
Western Avenue, presents the anomaly of a man 
with exceptionally good business qualifications 
and fine musical talent. 

An ability to manage successfully the large 
business of the Will County National Bank dur- 
ing business hours, sing half the night, and lead 
and control one of those proverbially unruly 
combinations, a church choir, on Sundays. 

He is equally at home with commercial or 
musical notes. 

Mr. Talcott is most fortunate in his helpmate, 
a lady of optimistic temperament and altruistic 
tendency, who is, if not unequalled, certainly 
unsurpassed in capacity and disposition for 
charitable and society enterprises, for what she 
undertakes to do she does with all her might, and 
thus deserves especial mention for her enterprise, 
activity and vim, 

'•She hath done what she could." 



166 Cass Street Sketches 

Rev. Doctor Lewis 

Discussing the navy question in Congress 
some years ago, a member made the statement 
that "the United States had one of the first and 
great requisites for a magnificent navy — plenty 
of water." And thus it may be said, without 
fear of contradiction, that Doctor Lewis has, at 
the end of Western Avenue, the first requisite 
for a fine suburban home — a fine piece of land. 
There is, however, one drawback, for if he should 
erect a home here it might prove a. ne plus ultra 
to the extension of the avenue to the town line 
or the Dupage river, which it will undoubtedly 
reach in a few years at its present rate of growth. 



Cass Street Sketches 167 

George M. Campbell 

Erected on one of the highest elevations of the 
second bluff, substantial, elegant, commodious and 
complete in all of its appointments, the home of 
George M. Campbell is unsurpassed by any 
dwelling in the city. Perfect as it is for all prac- 
tical purposes of home comfort, it has, from its 
commanding position, fine possibilities for an 
observatory. 

Surmounted by a crystal dome, there would be 
an eyrie in which the owner, as a dreamer, might 
dream; as a visionary see visions; as a meteorol- 
ogist view aerial phenomena in varied forms; as 
an astronomer, with telescope, take strolls among 
the stars. See 

"Gray-eyed morn smile on the frowning night, 
Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light." 

Behold the sun, from the time its first rays 
salute the mansions' Eastern cheek and throw 
the shadow to the West, until its last ruddy rays 



168 Cass Street Sketches 

press lingering kisses on the Western cheek and 
cast the long shadow to the East. 

"Shadows prove the presence of the sun." 

Here, feel each breeze that blows from each 
compass point; the Nor'easter coming, perchance, 
from Greenland's glacial mountains by way of 
Labrador, doubly chilled with mists and fogs, or 
laden with sleet and snow, moaning, groaning 
and sighing around the angles, arches and gables. 
The great Northwest; the storm-king's home; 
where blizzards and icy blasts are born; next, 
the glorious West; the sunset's home; and yet 
from whence at times arise portentous black 
storm clouds, surcharged with wind, rain, lurid 
lightning and earth-shaking peals of thunder; 
then the burst of sunshine following the tempest, 
painting the radiant rainbow on the blue-black 
back-ground of the receding storm. The South- 
west; the point from which tornadoes start on 
t'neir tortuous trips of terror, when two air-cur- 



Cass Street Sketches 169 

rents dispute the right of way, clasp for a waltz, 
the centrifugal, centripetal, ascending and de- 
scending spiral motion creating vacuums and 
vortices, and with diabolical energy dance a 
dance of death and destruction; again, the terri- 
ble grandeur of the nocturnal tempest — -the on- 
coming aerial tidal wave with zigzag lightning 
stabbing the black abyss and lighting the path- 
way of the storm. 

Here in contemplative mood look backwards 
down the aisles of ages, through the distant 
vistas marked out by monuments, illuminated 
with lamps left burning by departed giants of 
genius, philosophers and scientific sages. 

Viewing the varied landscape from this eyrie 
on the hill, one cannot help thinking of the 
world's pre - historic history, which is partly 
written in the rocks, for the science of paleontol- 
ogy reconstructs a vanished fauna and flora from 
fossilized remains; finds a pre-glacial man beneath 
glacial moraines and drift. 



170 Cass Street Sketches 

Recently, in tunnelling under Lake Michigan 
the bed of an ancient river was found whose 
waters flowed down this valley before the Lake was 
there — before the glaciers came and planed the 
tops of these limestone quarries and left striated 
surfaces to evidence the fact; left gravel, sand, 
clay banks and boulders brought from regions 
farther North. 

Wondering whether those eighty-foot sea ser- 
pents ever swam over this valley in the unsettled 
condition of the country, before the geography 
and topography of the world was firmly fixed and 
the waters found a level and settled down to stay 
there. Wondering whether the mastodon ever 
browsed upon the branches, grazed upon the 
prairies, quenched his thirst in the great river 
which flowed between these hills. 

Ponder on the problem of when and how the 
red man came here; by evolution or emigration 
from the cradle of the human race; was it by 
fabled Atlantis and the connecting link of the 



Cass Street Sketches 171 

continents before the great cataclysm buried the 
roadway beneath the water, or via Greenland 
before it was an island, — tropical, and not an 
Iceland. 

Albert J. Bates 

Since writing the foregoing sketch this elegant 
home, the pride of the West Side, has changed 
ownership; and Albert J. Bates, a man of genius, 
and one of Joliet's self-made men, has become its 
proprietor and has joined the Western Avenue 
settlement. 



172 Cass Street Sketches 

Stars 

As the eyes stroll among the stars, thoughts, 
by other thoughts begotten, are marshalled in the 
mind, and the wonderhig and the longing to know 
what, and why they are, makes the wish a father 
to the thought, that in good time we shall go to 
see and know them all. in what form we cannot 
tell; we do not know. 

At a recent ministers' meeting in Chicago, a 
young Doctor of Divinity attempted in a tentative 
manner to elucidate what the Tribune was pleased 
to call a "New Theory of Heaven." It would seem 
as if anything about heaven would be new to the 
interviewer who wrote that report. He was ev- 
idently more accustomed to the requirements of 
filling space in newspaper columns than in con- 
templating interstellar space. He must have 
drawn upon his imagination for the words he put 
into the mouths of the ministers whose comments 
he purports to give. It is hardly credible that 



Cass Street Sketches 173 

they could have made such vapid statements as 
are credited to them. 

The report, with its cartoons, is a burlesque, 
and manifestly does the Doctor injustice, for it 
makes him appear like one, who, finding an angel 
chiseled in marble by some master-hand would fain 
claim it as his own, and improve upon the original 
inspiration by draping it in frills and furbelows, 
and adorning it with gems and garlands. Cer- 
tainly, no one would claim to be the originator and 
proprietor of a speculative belief, the central idea 
of which is as old as the intellegence of mankind. 

For ages, countless, watching, wondering eyes 
have gazed at those bright gems in far-off skies, 
and to many practical minds there has come a 
hope, a belief, that, after death, their disembodied 
souls might pass as swift as thought, from time to 
time, from world to world, and learn something 
of the meaning, something of the aim and object 
of the Great Creator's plan; and be an inhabitant 
of those mansions in the skies. 



174 Cass Street Sketches 

A belief in a theory of such magnificent pos- 
sibilities must come almost by intuition, or never 
come at all. it is belittled and befogged by am- 
plifications and realistic analogies with the things 
we know. 

At the close of the nineteenth century there is 
no inquisition — no diabolical monster to fasten its 
cruel fangs upon heretical thought or teaching. 

Gallileo believed and began to teach the Co- 
pernican theory — the sun the center of the solar 
system. Ptolemy had taught that the earth was 
the center of the universe. Gallileo was throttled 
by the inquisition; forbidden ever again to teach 
the stability of the sun, the motion of the earth; 
and in sackcloth and ashes, on his bended knees, 
to swear upon the Book that it was not true; that 
he detested, abhorred, and abjured the heresy, 
and would never more teach it. 

It was admitted by his enemies that it might 
be scientifically correct, but it was religious 
heresy. 



Cass Street Sketches 175 

As a speculative belief, which, in its very nature, 
cannot be supported by human evidence or human 
reasoning: the belief that other worlds — the count- 
less stars — may be the destiny of souls from this 
and other worlds, analagous to this, is full and 
rich in its rationality; full and rich in its possib- 
ilities, and alluring in its hope. 

It removes from the mind the dread of death, 
the dread of annihilation, and fills it with beatific 
visions of the beauty and grandeur of eternity. 

It neither controverts nor conflicts with the 
teaching of him, on whose cradle the Star of 
Bethlehem left its orbit to come and shine. 

It must be admitted by the most obdurate that 
this theory presents a more hopeful, alluring out- 
look for eternity to a healthy, practical, unpre- 
judiced mind than the eternity said to be prepared 
for a large proportion of the human race, who do 
not fulfill the requirements for saints by the 
musty, morbid, gloomy creeds of the Middle Ages. 

Had the Doctor proclaimed his belief in a bold 



176 Cass Street Sketches 

and concise manner, it would appear much more 
striking and convincing than he made it by dilut- 
ing and attenuating the great idea with symbols, 
explanations and limitations. 

"A God alone can comprehend a God." 

When mortality has put on immortality, then, 
and not until then, can 

The disenthralled, Christ-ransomed soul, 
Enjoy and comprehend the whole, 
' Through eternity's endless years — 
Know all the joys of all the spheres. 



Cass Street Sketches 177 

Harlow N. Higinbotham 

And now comes a scene of enchantment — a 
vision of beauty— a park and a palace, Harlow 
N. Higinbotham's (the Chicago Millionaire) Cass 
Street country mansion, the crowning glory of 
Hickor}/ Creek Settlement and Cass Street; on the 
same farm and near the old home where he was 
born and lived, in the halcyon days of his boy- 
hood. From his observatory he can look on, 
and muse on, many scenes hallowed by fond 
recollections. 

Hickory Creek, which he forded, waded, rafted 
saw logs, and swam in, fished for black bass, and 
caught suckers and sun-fish; the dark forest pri- 
meval where the wolves howled and the foxes 
yelped at night time, and where next day he set 
steel traps for wolves and foxes, — and caught cot- 
ton tail rabbits and squirrels; baited them again for 
beaver, — and caught muskrats; the site of his fa- 
ther's old saw mill and grist mill, in whose wheat 



178 Cass Street Sketches 

bins and corn bins he waded barefooted; the old 
orchard where he ate too soon and too many the 
green goods that grew on the apple trees; the 
furred and feathered game that he shot in the for- 
est and on the prairie; the grand prairie fires, 
which often swept over the country threatening 
and sometimes destroying the pioneers' buildings 
and haystacks; the spot where the little country 
school-house stood and in which he acquired the 
first rudiments of an education, whereby he has 
been able to write a signature that is circulated 
all over the civilized world; studied arithmetic, 
that he might check up the account of his vast 
business in millions; history and geography 
enough to preside at and guide the world's great- 
est exposition; learned to read that he might read 
the signs of the times in the great marts of the 
world, read the character and credit of men in 
their faces, and books, papers, and letters at mid- 
night in the "Land of the Midnight Sun." 
His many friends now feel that he should de- 



Cass Street Sketches 179 

vote some of the best years of his life to the 
public, in the Senate of the United States as 
Senator from Illinois. 

There are none to dispute his ability and his 
popularity. "Through all the years, he has worn 
the white flower of a blameless life." 

And when The End is written on life's last 
busy chapter, may he rest from his labors with 
his kindred and friends near the east end of old 
Cass Street. 

THE END. 




Index. 



PAGE 

Cass Street 7 

Henry K. Stevens 11 

Senator George H. Munroe 11 

Dr. S. T. Ferguson 12 

L. F. Beach 13 

Major R. W. McClaughry 13 

Edwin S. Munroe 14 

Lewis E. Dillman 16 

Andrew Dillman 17 

A. H. Shreffler— Clem S. VVitwer 19 

Judge Benjamin Olin 20 

Judge Charles H. Weeks 21 

Col. George C. Clinton 24 

Martin C. Bisseli 25 

Rev. Herman J. Powell 27 

Charles S. Seaver 28 

William McDermett i . . . 29 

Abijah Cagwin 30 

Martin Westphal 33 

Oakwood Cemetery 34 

181 



182 Index. 

George M. Fish 34 

A Peculiar Stoctc Farm 35 

Ridgewood 36 

Red Mill and Thomas Culbertson 37 

Lewis E. Ingalls 41 

New Lenox 44 

Rock Island Railroad 46 

The Cut-Off 51 

Abram Francis 52 

A. Allen Francis 53 

Morgan Watkins 55 

Judge Davison 56 

Dr. B. F. Allen 58 

Cornelius C. Van Home 59 

William Cornelius Van Home 78 

Count Rumford 86 

Hon. John M. Thompson 90 

Silver Cross Hospital 97 

Old Schools 102 

The Old Brick School House 104 

Samuel L. Worrell 115 

The High School Literary society 117 

Roll Call 122 

Nelson D. Eiwood. I 

James G. Eiwood . > 134 

W. A. Steel J 

First Hospital 1 36 

Hon. Jesse O. Norton 137 



Index. 183 

Hon. William S. Brooks 139 

Dr. Alfred Nash 139 

John D. Paige 140 

George Woodruff HO 

Edward Akin 143 

Saint Mary's Convent 144 

Saturday Night on Chicago Street 146 

Western Avenue 149 

Horatic N. Marsh 151 

Hon. Royal E. Barber 156 

Harry F. Cagwin 1 58 

Francis L. Cagwin 1 58 

Hopkins Rowell 160 

William G. Wilcox 161 

Edmund Wilcox 161 

Jerome P. Stevens 164 

Charles H. Talcott 165 

Rev. Doctor Lewis 166 

George M. Campbell 167 

Albert J. Bates 171 

Stars 172 

Harlow N. Higinbotham 177 



